Wentworth Memorial Church Vaucluse: Development plans

Strict heritage controls haven’t deterred the owners of a heritage-listed Vaucluse church from pitching bold plans to convert it to a home.

The strict heritage controls on Wentworth Memorial Church have not stopped one ambitious developer from attempting to turn the holy site into a home.

The plan is to convert the existing single-storey vestry into three-level bedroom accommodation while using the dazzlingly beautiful church as a living room, kitchen and dining space.

Gob-smacking artist impressions show the sunlight filtering through the commanding stained-glass windows onto a modern lounge suite.

An artist’s impression of what it will look like when complete.

The owners are looking to keep some of the unique features.

Another sketch imagines the dining table in the space where the alter once stood, the pews replaced by a kitchen bench.

The documents also reveal the organ will remain in place, providing potential for singalongs with a difference.

The site was sold by the Anglican Church for $5.6 million in 2018 to funeral operator Brookava who onsold it the same year for a $200,000 profit.

Noting that “any adaptation of the church space should be reversible”, the new owners of the prized piece of Vaucluse have gone to extraordinary lengths to get their $5.3 million development application over the line.

The home will come complete with church organ.

Features such as the carpark, media room and gym would be located in an underground bunker linked to the church building by “a pedestrian tunnel cut in the stone foundation”.

According to the church’s heritage statement of significance it was built as a memorial to the fallen soldiers of WWII and is one of the greatest surviving works of acclaimed architect Don Gazzard.

“The church is of State significance for its association with Vaucluse Estate of noted colonial explorer, poet journalist and politician William Wentworth and his family who developed the estate from 1827,” the statement reads.

Pull up a pew.

“The rocky outcrop where the church is now located was a favourite spot for William Wentworth to view his estate and was also where he chose to be buried as evidenced by the Wentworth mausoleum on the opposite side of this outcrop.”

The developers Nord Sud state their application will “facilitate the conversation and viable future management of an import state heritage item”.

“Though the change of use from a place of worship, long since found to not be viable, to a generous single dwelling. It is anticipated that the change of use shall secure the heritage item for future.”