Pipe Organs in WA
 
 
 
 
 

Stella Maris Presentation Convent, Geraldton
The pipe organs of Western Australia




Geraldton Presentation Convent

Geraldton Presentation Convent

Geraldton Presentation Convent

Property
Name of institution   Stella Maris Presentation College
Type of institution0   College
Street Address   Sanford Street
City   Geraldton
State   Western Australia
Postcode   6530
Country   Australia
Name of building   The Convent of the Congregation of the Presentation Sisters (WA) Inc
Name of room   Chapel
Dates of the building   1926
Register of Heritage Places   Adopted 15 Dec 2015
Heritage Place number   13750
Architect  
Builder  

Special architectural features and fittings  

Other location information   In 1903, the Presentation Convent was erected at its present site in Sanford Street, where it acted as a primary school and a church prior the establishment of St Francis Xavier Cathedral.

In 1911, the construction of the new college campus began beside the current convent, where the first stone was laid by Bishop Bernard Kelly, the first bishop of Geraldton. The construction finished in 1912 and was welcomed by many commendations on its presentation. In 1913, the campus was officially named Stella Maris Presentation College. Mother Joseph O'Connell, the foundress of the Presentation community died in 1933,

50 years of the Presentation Sisters in Geraldton was marked in 1941, and was celebrated by guests arriving from throughout the state. The outbreak of World War II affected the college in 1942, where students were evacuated to Mount Magnet.

The 'Prefect concept' was introduced in 1943 to give senior students a sense of leadership. Melva Sallans carried out the duties of Senior Perfect, assisted by Effie Dallimore, Joan Mulligan and Rica Diamond.

The Diamond Jubilee of the Presentation Sisters in 1951 is celebrated with a new wing to the school.v
In 1961, severe flooding of the town caused for an evacuation of the students to Carnarvon.v
The campus was enlarged during the 1970s and 1980s with the second extension of the campus, a new sports oval, the completion of the Maitland Street Extension, new auditorium, new pool and new tennis courts all being constructed on these two decades.

In 1991, the centenary of the Presentation Sisters in Western Australia and the centenary of Stella Maris college was celebrated.

Stella Maris College celebrated its final year in 1993, before it amalgamates with St. Patrick's College to form Nagle Catholic College.

Name of contact  
Mailing Address  
Telephone  
Email  
Other contact information  

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Previous organ(s)
Date of previous organ   None
Detail of previous organ  
Dates when key work has been undertaken  
Dates of any moves that have taken place  
Variations from original design of organ  
Information on previous organ  
Information about comparable instruments to previous organ  
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Present organ
Type of installation   Freestanding

Case description   Mostly enclosed, polished jarrah veneer

Placement in room  

Builder's name   Paul F. Hufner

Opus number  

Date of completion/installation   1976

Construction materials  

Number of manuals   One (1)

Key compasses  

Number of keys   61

Key material  

Pedal compass  

Number of pedals   30

Pedalboard type  

Pedalboard material  

Type of chests  

Type of key action   Electro-magnetic

Type of stop action   Electro-magnetic

Couplers  

Tremulants  

Accessories   

Console type   Detached stopkey

Stop label material  

Placement  

General design  

Playing aids  

Divisions   Manual, Pedal

Wind pressures  

Stop list  
MANUAL
Diapason 8’ Bass octave from A B
Lieblich Gedacht 8’ A
Octave 4’ B
Lieblich Flute 4’ A
Gamba 4’ C
Gamba 2’ C
Piccolo 2’ A
Nazard Flute 2 2/3’ A
Larigot 1 3/5’ A
Octavin 1' C
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PEDAL
Bourdon 16’ A
Bass Flute 8’ A
Choral Bass 4’ C
Fifteenth 2’(sic) B
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Total number of stops   14

Total number of ranks   3

Total number of pipes   231

Dates when key work has been undertaken on current organ  

Dates of any moves that have taken place to current organ   The organ was removed c2000 to storage, pending rebuilding in a parish church near Perth.
Rebuilt for St Anne's Church, Bindoon by Pipe Organs of WA, 2019

Information on current organ  

Comparable instruments to current organ  

Assessment of organ and current status   No longer in this location

Other organs by this builder   There are many organs by Paul Hufmer in Western Australia. Please refer to Western Australian Organs Builders Index

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Document control Original entries J R Elms, OAM, Gazetteer of Western Australian Pipe Organs, 1971, 1999, 2003 and 2004.
This entry D B Duncan 01 January 2009.
Information on removal and storgae from Fr. Paul Fox, 09 November 2009.
Photograph of organ reproduced from 35mm film photo, circa 1985, by Bruce Duncan 26 November 2010.
Updated Bruce Duncan 04 March 2019.
Stoplist by Graham Devenish 21 July 2019.