Epworth Eastern to build The Salvation Army’s new church for deal with Box Hill Institute

A multi-million-dollar Salvation Army place of worship will grace a new health and education precinct in booming Box Hill, with plans and images of the site now revealed.

The new church will be built next to Box Hill Town Hall.

The heart of Box Hill is getting a $10 million blessing.

A church will be built — courtesy of Epworth Eastern — next to the town hall to serve as The Salvation Army’s new place of worship and Box Hill headquarters.

The hospital has been next to the charity on Nelson Rd for 13 years, and will take over The Salvation Army’s site at 17-23 Nelson Rd once the church has been built.

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The deal is part of the Box Hill Health and Education landmark agreement, which also includes Box Hill Institute, and will enable a nurse training facility to be built to service the TAFE facility and the hospital.

The new Salvation Army building will include a cafe and public seating.

Epworth Eastern executive director Louise O’Connor said the exciting arrangements had been “nearly four years in the making”.

“It’s probably the first time in the eastern region we’ve had local groups such as The Salvation Army, Box Hill Institute and Epworth coming together and all agreeing on the same mission, which is to improve health and education within this region,” she said.

Ms O’Connor said the move would give the Salvation Army a bigger space in a better location — just 300m from Box Hill Central.

Those involved in the project celebrate the start of construction. Picture: George Salpigtidis

The move will return the organisation to almost the exact site of the first Victorian Salvation Army corps back in 1891.

The Salvation Army metro east officer Major Bram Cassidy said the chosen location was “an amazing coincidence”.

He said constructing a new building represented the group’s ongoing commitment to serving the area.

The structure has been designed to bring together The Salvation Army’s religious, social and community programs, while providing more space for the expanding congregation.

It will include a 300-seat worship auditorium, multipurpose room, large commercial kitchen, cafe and a large outdoor balcony.

Architects have designed the building to be low-rise to avoid hindering the Town Hall’s facade.

Construction at 1010 Whitehorse Rd is set to start this month and is expected to take 14 months.