St Aidan’s Church in Strathmore Victoria forms a part of a network of churches constructed in and around post-World War II Melbourne in the 1950s and 60s. Radical in their design at the time, these places of worship architecturally challenged the preconceived notions of what a church was and how it should have manifested physically.
The current building was commissioned and designed in 1958 and dedicated in 1961. In its present state, it is covered under a Local Heritage Overlay by the Moonee Valley City Council. Whilst a report has been written by the Council, outlining its significance, it has not been recognised at a state level and as such, has not been placed on the Victorian State Heritage Register. As a whole, the church has remained remarkably unchanged in its internal architectural treatment and presentation and as a result, provides a unique insight into the design ideals and community aspirations of the era in which it was built.
Credit: Illustration and introductory text by Jock Work, Rebecca Jia Hui Toh, Tunli Pang and Wee Yan Qiu Rhoda (Melbourne University)
Where is St Aidan's?
St Aidan’s is nestled between Pascoe Vale Rd and Bulla Road just south of the M2 Freeway. You can get off the freeway at the Bulla Road (Essendon DFO) or Pascoe Vale Road exits. Use the following address in your navigation app to get you here. We are pretty easy to find.