Sinnamon Memorial Uniting Church to be demolished, moved for childcare centre
A heritage-listed church in Brisbane’s southwest dating to 1888 will be partially demolished and renovated as part of plans for a new three-storey childcare centre.
South West
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Developers have applied to council to dismantle, renovate and move a heritage-listed Brisbane church and turn it into a reception area for a new three-storey childcare centre.
GSEJ Development lodged a development application (DA) with Brisbane City Council for the 72-place centre at 675 Seventeen Mile Rocks Rd in Sinnamon Park.
The Sinnamon Memorial Uniting Church has stood guard over the site since 1888.
The proposed development adjoined the south-eastern end of heritage-listed Sinnamon Farm.
GSEJ said the church would be mounted on the ground floor slab of the childcare centre in a prominent location on the street where it would serve as the main entry point.
The porch would be dismantled and reconstructed, with a new floor.
“The interior will be adapted to provide a reception/sign-in area, an office and a staff room,” the application said.
“Removal of external fabric will include the recent concrete stumps, the front concrete block sub-floor wall and the bottom row of chamferboards.
“The rear eaves will also be trimmed back at the junction of the new building, where an opening will be formed to connect the two structures internally
“The timber floor will be repaired, and the walls and ceilings, windows and door repainted.
“Much of the extant furniture will be reused within the development, and where possible retained in the church, as shown on the drawings.”
The childcare centre would cover 455 sqm and have 14 carparks.
A driveway would be positioned between the church and a boundary with a former school to provide open space and visual connectivity between the two.
“The proposal for a childcare centre is identified as a suitable outcome for the site to allow for the transition of urban purposes while retaining a State Heritage Place,” the application said.
“The childcare centre retains and integrates the heritage church within the existing development.
“Notably, the Seventeen Mile Area continues to be one of Brisbane’s prominent residential areas, characterised by detached dwelling houses, multiple dwellings and retail activities along Seventeen Mile Rocks Rd and Goggs Rd.
“The subject site is identified as being suitably located for the intended use as it is close to other community facilities and nearby centres.”
There were two other childcare centres within 750m of the proposed project.
“Following further investigations and queries on availability, it is noted the existing centres (Creative Garden Early Learning Centre & Goodstart Early Learning) do not have further capacity or vacancy to support additional places,” the DA said.
“Given the site’s proximity to existing community facilities and residential catchment, a new childcare centre will be capable in its own right to service the local catchment.”
Hours of operation would be from 6.30am to 7pm, Monday to Friday.
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