St John's Precinct Development
An ongoing evolution for future generations
Discussion of the opportunities and need for development of the St John's Precinct has been continuing over many years. The Precinct is substantially reduced from the area granted to the church by Robert Campbell more than 60 years before Canberra was selected as the site of the national Capital. Nonetheless it occupies a large and significant block bounded by two major axes of the Griffin Plan – Anzac Parade to the east and Constitution Avenue to the south. To the north is Amaroo Street, Reid and to the west is the campus of the Canberra Institute of Technology. The Precinct includes the church and churchyard, the rectory, the schoolhouse museum, the parish hall and offices, the Jamieson House offices of the Diocese, four houses along Amaroo Street and an old scout hall.
In June 2006 an Ordinance of the Bishop-in-Council established a Precinct Development Board (PDB) to carry forward to Master Plan stage efforts which began in the late 1990s with the establishment of a Precinct Planning Committee, followed by a Precinct Forum and the St John's Development Task Force. Apart from its general responsibilities in relation to church property the Diocese has a direct interest in the site through its ownership of Jamieson House and two residential properties on Amaroo Street. The PDB, chaired by Len Goodman AO, presented a Master Plan in late 2007 and an accompanying business case was provided in April 2008. With architect Rodney Moss of Cox, Humphries Moss, assisted by Sheila Hughes, the PDB outlined a footprint of buildings and facilities to respond to the needs of the Parish and the Diocese and to maximise the potential of the site. The Plan provided concepts and “envelopes” of suggested space usage and did not delve into detailed design.
Warmly appreciative of the extensive and dedicated work carried out on their behalf by the PDB, both the Diocese and the Parish decided not to proceed towards full implementation of the Master Plan proposals, but to explore initially within its general scope more modest building programs and financially conservative paths to support their respective missions through their shared presence in the precinct. That work is continuing.
In a resolution adopted on 16 July 2008, the Parish Council recorded its belief that that the purpose of any development of the precinct should be:
to strengthen and extend the Christian ministry of the parish to meet the needs of the congregation and to provide a welcoming and appealing place of worship for visitors and newcomers including families and young people - particularly through reaching out to and engaging with the residents of Campbell, Reid and the city
to protect, foster and communicate the heritage values of the site, both as stewards of God's church and “terrain” and as public-spirited citizens of the national capital
to use the resources (“talents”) we have been given in the precinct in a sensitive and balanced way to make far-sighted provision for both the preceding objectives.
The process of giving sharper form to our values and mission as a basis for any development is continuing, and has been given a new impetus following the installation of the new Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn, the Rt Rev Stuart Robinson. At the same time a Parish working group has been examining a variety of options for development along the Amaroo Street frontage of the precinct, currently occupied by four residences and the former Scout Hall.
The Parish and the Diocese, through Bishop-in-Council, are committed to working together to ensure that development is spiritually and visually harmonious and respectful of the unique heritage and environmental values of the site. Parishioners and primary stakeholders, as well as other interested parties including the Reid Residents Association, the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) and national and ACT planning authorities will be consulted and kept abreast of progress and decisions through correspondence, meetings, notices and other appropriate means as well as through this website.
Apart from such planned or scheduled consultations, St John's Parish Council is keen to hear ideas and reactions from parishioners as well as from other interested or concerned parties at any time. If you wish to offer your thoughts or seek information or clarification, please write to the Secretary of the Parish Council at the Parish Office email or postal addresses provided via the home page. Alternatively you can contact the convenor of the Council's Precinct Liaison Team, Joe Thwaites, via the same addresses or directly at gumtree@grapevine.net.au or on 6161 7313.