Mount Thompson crematorium

Mount Thompson Crematorium

West Chapel main entrance flanked by Daphne Mayo's relief sculptures of Grief and Hope (1934)
Former names Brisbane Crematorium
General information
Status Open
Location Brisbane, Queensland
Address Nursery Road, Holland Park
Country Australia
Coordinates 27°31′37″S 153°04′36″E / 27.52684°S 153.07667°E / -27.52684; 153.07667
Website
www.mtthompsoncrem.com.au

Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens and Crematorium (formerly Brisbane Crematorium) includes a heritage-listed chapel (the West Chapel), columbaria and other features.[1] It is located on north-western slopes of Mount Thompson in Brisbane, Australia. The street address is Nursery Road in Holland Park. It was the first crematorium established in Queensland.[2]

History

The crematorium was the first in Queensland and was constructed after many decades of lobbying and public discussion, culminating in a group of citizens meeting and forming the Brisbane Crematorium Limited in 1930. Shares were sold in the company and a suitable site was purchased in 1933.[3]

Early designs were done by Richard Gailey, Junior (the son and business partner of Richard Gailey).[4] However, Melbourne architects Charles and Frank Heath were appointed as the crematorium designers and worked in partnership with Brisbane architects GHM Addison and Son and HS Macdonald who prepared further plans and specifications.[5]

Proposed but unused plans
Mount Thompson Crematorium, early proposed plans for front elevation, 1932.
Mount Thompson Crematorium, early proposed ground plan, 1932

Artist William Bustard was engaged to work on a canvas mural representing the awakening from death which was positioned over the catafalque in the chapel.[6]

Sculptor Daphne Mayo was commissioned to create three relief works, Grief and Hope for the front facade and one of a boy scattering seed, representing the continuation of life, for the original columbarium.[7]

Crematorium artworks
Daphne Mayo working on the sculpture Grief for the Mount Thompson crematorium (1934)
Awakening from death (aka Lifting the veil of convention)

Left: Original mural on canvas being worked upon by William Bustard in 1934 at the Crematorium

Right: Reproduction of mural by Scott Christensen (2008)
The first cremation service 11 Sep 1934

The first cremation service was held on the morning of 11 September 1934.[8] A religious service for Neil Richmond Rose of Wynnum, Queensland was held at 10.30am followed by a non-religious one for Ernest Charles Fletcher of Ularunda Station, central Queensland at 2.30pm.[9] [10][11]

Over the years further columbaria and gardens were constructed, adjacent land acquired and facilities expanded. By 1962 an additional chapel had been built, designed by Adrian Pooley.[12] The new chapel was designated the East Chapel and the original, the West Chapel.

Renowned architect Karl Langer received commissions in the 1960s to design a number of new columbaria and to modify the West Chapel including new pews, kneeling rails, a new marble lined pulpit and removal of Bustard’s original mural with reworking of the walls and catafalque surrounds.[13]

West Chapel interior 2015

The West Chapel underwent five months restoration commencing in 2007 and reopening in February 2008. The chapel was returned to its original configuration with removal of pews and installation of single chairs as well as restoration of terrazzo flooring, lead lighting and the catafalque and its surrounds. A reproduction by Scott Christensen of William Bustard’s original mural painting was also commissioned and installed.[14]

The East Chapel was also refurbished in the 2000s with modern lighting, podium work and contemporary seating installed.[12]

Description

The original 1934 crematorium building is art deco in style. It is a brick structure with stone facings including a portico flanked with stone pillars. It included originally a chapel, mortuary, retort room, columbarium garden, pond and offices. Large arched openings overlook a columbarium garden and pond. The walls of the chapel are lined with a dado of Queensland marble in black and dove grey. The floor is terrazzo with marble borders.[15]

Heritage listing

The crematorium is listed on the Brisbane Heritage Register.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Brisbane City Council Heritage Citation - Mt Thompson Memorial Gardens & Crematorium". Retrieved 24 Apr 2012.
  2. ↑ "Contact Us". Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  3. ↑ Nicol, Robert (1994). At the end of the road: government, society and the disposal of human remains in the 19th and 20th centuries. St Leonards, Sydney: Centennial Park Cemetery Trust, Allen & Unwin. p. 353. ISBN 1863737197.
  4. ↑ "CREMATORIUM FOR BRISBANE.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 2 March 1932. p. 16. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  5. ↑ "AT MT. GRAVATT.". The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954). Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 25 October 1933. p. 12. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "THE BRISBANE CREMATORIUM.". The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947). Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 5 June 1934. p. 15 Edition: LATE CITY. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  7. ↑ "THE Women's WORLD.". The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954). Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 6 September 1934. p. 20. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "FIRST CREMATION IN BRISBANE.". The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947). Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 11 September 1934. p. 1 Edition: CITY FINAL LAST MINUTE NEWS. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  9. ↑ "FIRST LOCAL CREMATIONS.". The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954). Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 11 September 1934. p. 14. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  10. ↑ "DIGNIFIED SIMPLICITY.". The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947). Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 11 September 1934. p. 8 Edition: CITY FINAL LAST MINUTE NEWS. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  11. ↑ Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens cremation register index, 10 September 1934 - 17 November 1941, the first 5000: A-Z. 1. Queensland, Australia: Genealogical Society of Queensland Incorporated. 1994. pp. 26, 70. ISBN 1 86430 019 1.
  12. 1 2 "East Chapel". Mt Thompson Memorial Gardens and Crematorium. InvoCare. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  13. ↑ ‘West Chapel alterations July 1962’, ‘West Chapel alterations October 1966’, Karl Langer architectural drawings, [Roll 3/6, R83/3/6], [Roll 21/8, R83/21/8], State Library of Queensland
  14. ↑ "Mt Thompson West Chapel re-opens her doors". Involve Invo. InvoCare (13 May 2008): 10. 2008.
  15. ↑ "THE BRISBANE CREMATORIUM.". The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947). Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 5 June 1934. p. 15 Edition: LATE CITY. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  16. ↑ "Mt Thompson Memorial Gardens & Crematorium". Brisbane Heritage Register. Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 14 March 2014.

Coordinates: 27°31′37″S 153°04′36″E / 27.52684°S 153.07667°E / -27.52684; 153.07667

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