Kapel Tua di Deakin University

Deakin University di negara bagian Victoria memiliki empat kampus. Satu kampus berada di Waurn Ponds, Geelong.

Menginap di on-campuss accommodation, tidak banyak aktifitas yang bisa dilakukan di petang hari setelah course usai, kecuali berkeliling meng-explore kampus. Tidak sia-sia membawa sepatu kets karena bisa jalan-jalan sore dengan nyaman di petang musim panas di bulan Februari 2007. Masa seminggu di Deakin University, cukup untuk mengenali setiap sudut kampus yang rindang. Danau dan lahan basah membuat lansekap kampus lebih menarik.

Banyak hal yang menarik, tapi yang paling menarik bagi saya adalah sebuah bangunan kapel (gereja dengan ukuran kecil) yang sudah berumur lebih dari satu setengah abad. Ternyata bangunan tua ini telah mengalami relokasi, tetapi masih tampak asli. Relokasi dilakukan bersamaan dengan restorasi, melibatkan berbagai pihak yang berwenang dengan berbagai keahlian. Kapel dibangun kembali, bata demi bata tanpa merusak tampang bangunan asli. Suatu opaya konservasi bangunan tua yang patut mendapat acungan jempol.

Kapel Tua, Deakin University

Cafetaria, Deakin University


Berikut ini sejarah kapel yang disalin dari http://www.deakin.edu.au/fmsd/services/roombookings/chapel.php

The History

In 1857 tenders were called for the erection of a Roman Catholic Church on the corner of Sutherland's Creek Road and Loundes Road, Steiglitz. The church was designed by architects Shaw and Dowden and built of local quartzite sandstone. It was named St. Johns and was used as both church and school until 1873 and then continued as a church until the early 1950s.

Over the following years it gradually fell into disrepair until, in 1983 the University negotiated with the Catholic Church, the National Trust and local authorities for the re-location and restoration of the building. This was a painstaking task achieved by a team that comprised members of the University staff, various specialists and young people working under the Employment Initiatives Program.

The Chapel was rebuilt block by block. Most of the windows came from the demolished St. Augustines Anglican Church in North Melbourne and the furniture was provided by the Friends of Deakin.

It was officially opened by His Excellency, the Governor of Victoria, Dr. Davis McCaughey, on 19 December 1986. As he said on that occasion "This building speaks of a past, going back to the pioneers in the Sutherlands Creek district; and it is a building of character and beauty".

It is truly ecumenical church for the present and future. It combines architectural elements from both the Catholic and Anglican traditions and now welcomes people of diverse religious backgrounds in their prayer and worship.