Heritage Places

Heritage Place Details

LOCATION
Map Show Map
Address Bunganditj Country, 87 George Street MILLICENT
Locality
Accuracy H - high level confidence
Development Plan Wattle Range Council
Polygon Type P - parcel (from DCDB)
DESCRIPTION
Details (Known As) St Alphonsus' Catholic Church
Registered Name St Alphonsus' Catholic Church
Significance St Alphonsus' Catholic Church demonstrates two important aspects of the evolution of the State's history, namely post-war regional development, which occurred as a result of the Playford government's industrialisation strategy for South Australia, and post-war migration, which supported industrialisation. St Alphonsus' Catholic Church is one of the largest churches built in regional South Australia after the Second World War. This reflects the rapid growth and prosperity of the town of Millicent as it emerged as a regional service centre for forestry and nearby associated industries during the post-war boom. Industrialisation drew an influx of workers and their families to Millicent. Many were migrants, and those who attended Mass at St Alphonsus' Church swelled the size of the Catholic congregation, leading directly to the construction of the new church in 1965-1966. St Alphonsus' Church is a pivotal example of a post-war church, as it was the first South Australian church to respond directly to the Instruction on the Liturgy, a key document arising from the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican (1962-1965) (Vatican II). Notably, the design achieved this by fanning the pews around the sanctuary by nearly 180 degrees, the first time this was done in a South Australian post-war church. Thus, it demonstrates a key stage in the development of the `post-war church' class of place. The church is also an outstanding, critically-recognised example of late twentieth-century ecclesiastical Modern Movement architecture in South Australia. The building is noted for its imposing appearance, structural engineering, use of materials, sense of light, integration of interior design, master planning, and the legible relationship between plan and external form.
Subject Index Religion - Church (Christian)
Class State
STATUS
Status Code REG - Confirmed as a State Heritage Place in the SA Heritage Register
Status Date 30-MAR-2023
REFERENCE
LGA Wattle Range
State Heritage ID 26544
Heritage Number 28125
SECTION 16 INFORMATION
Section 16 a - it demonstrates important aspects of the evolution or pattern of the State's history
d - it is an outstanding representative of a particular class of place of cultural significance
e - it demonstrates a high degree of creative, aesthetic or technical accomplishment or is an outstanding representative of particular construction techniques or design characteristics
PLAN PARCEL & TITLE
As listed in the SA Heritage Register
Plan Parcel & Title Information CT 5767/931 F192084 A712

Disclaimer

While due care has been taken to ensure that the SA Heritage Places Database accurately reflects the South Australian Heritage Register and listings of Local Heritage Places in Development Plans, the State of South Australia does not accept liability for the use of the SA Heritage Database for any purpose. Users should consult the Department for Environment and Water - Heritage South Australia to confirm the listing of State Heritage Places and the relevant Development Plan for Local Heritage Places/Contributory Items.

In the majority of cases, the maps of State Heritage Places on this web site show the footprints of the most significant structures on a registered Place. However, sometimes they simply indicate the complete area of land comprising the Place. Work is proceeding to further refine the mapping of such places. It is also important to note that development control is not limited to the registered structures but extends to their setting and structures nearby (what is termed ‘development affecting’ a State Heritage Place). Hence it is vital that exact details of the listed place and implications for any proposed development be discussed with Heritage South Australia staff, as they cannot be deduced solely from the information on this web site. The inclusion of a place in the SA Heritage Register gives no right of public access. Permission to visit properties must be sought from the owners. The accuracy of the mapping of State Heritage Places is not guaranteed. Please contact Heritage SA ( https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/heritage/sa-heritage-register) if you believe there is an error.


GIS files

To access downloadable GIS files, go to Data.SA.