ST JOSEPH'S CHURCH

St. Joseph’s Church is located at 30 Fitzgerald Street, South Yarra, just a stone's throw from bustling Toorak Road and the Jam Factory complex on Chapel Street.

The church is a Gothic style, cruciform building with a bell tower topped by a sandstone rendered spire.  The foundation stone was laid on 17th March, 1888.  The exterior of St. Joseph's is red brick with Waurn Ponds sandstone detailing and a wide base course of bluestone.  A statue of St. Joseph and the infant Jesus nestles in an alcove beside the original entrance porch.  Nowadays, the church is accessed by a bluestone paved bridge over a bubbling reflection pool.  The entranceway is sheltered by a glass walkway which connects the church to the Parish Centre building. The church sits in a beautifully landscaped garden with a bluestone paved forecourt leading to a wisteria covered pergola and an ornamental wrought iron gate.

There is a gravelled car park for 25 vehicles on the west side immediately adjacent to the church.

The interior of the church is traditional with a central aisle flanked by seating for 250 people in wooden pews.  The soaring 45 foot high wood panelled ceiling is lined with gothic arched ribs and the church is lit by hanging wrought iron rectangular lanterns.  The church's leadlight windows are mostly of a modest design with the exception of the ornate rose window above the choir loft.  A mural of the crucifixion graces the wall at the rear of the sanctuary.  Two side chapels complete the building's cruciform shape.  The interior has been recently repainted in stone and off white with gilt highlights and old gold carpeting.

The choir loft houses a heritage listed organ built by William Anderson in 1894.  The facade pipes of the organ are decorated with ornamental cartouches whilst the uprights are capped with turned colonettes.  The organ is fully operational and available to experienced organists.  St. Joseph's has two organists/pianists who are available for weddings and other services.  The choir loft is available to musicians and/or choirs.

An audio system is available for CDs or microphone use.  The church has a Yamaha upright piano which is also available to experienced pianists.

There is disabled access to the church as well and disabled parking and toilet facilities.  Ladies and gents facilities are available in the adjacent Parish Centre.

The Parish Centre has several meeting rooms and a large hall with catering facilities.  This is available to wedding couples for cocktails and finger food between the ceremony and reception.

Church Opening Times: St Joseph's Church is open Tuesday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.00pm, on Saturdays from 8.30am to 7.30pm and Sundays from 8.30am to 11.00am (unless there are baptisms or weddings to follow). For Mass times see the Mass Times page. 

 HISTORY

Archbishop Carr appointed Fr. James Francis Fitzgerald as first pastor of St. Joseph’s, South Yarra some time after October 1887. And thus the Mission of South Yarra and Toorak was created. Masses were first celebrated at South Yarra Hall (presently 140-144 Toorak Road, near the railway station).

Father Fitzgerald born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1841, had been educated in an Augustinian Monastery in Callan, County Kilkenny. He was ordained in 1867 and arrived in Australia late the same year. He performed the first baptisms on 27th November and the first marriage on the 31st December 1887. The fact that the name of the street in which the church now stands bears his name is a complete co-incidence. Fr. Fitzgerald died at Carlton in 1893 aged 53.

The foundation stone for the church was laid in March 1887 and the church was opened on 25th October 1888 for a total cost of 3,500 pounds. The foundation stone for the present Presbytery (Priory) building was laid in 1901.

St. Joseph’s School was blessed and opened in 1889 and staffed initially by lay teachers. A community of Good Samaritan Sisters assumed charge of the school in 1905 and the congregation purchased a property, “Koblenz:”, in Caroline Street (now Caroline House) which became known as Santa Maria Convent.

  (School classroom 1970)           (Interior St. Joseph's 1970)          (The School - c. 1985)