Launceston Synagogue

{{Short description|Synagogue in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia}}

{{Infobox religious building

| name = Launceston Synagogue

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| image = Launceston Synagogue.JPG

| image_upright = 1.3

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| caption = Egyptian Revival-style synagogue in {{TAScity|Launceston}}

| map_type = Australia Tasmania

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| map_relief = 1

| map_caption = Location in Tasmania

| coordinates = {{coord|41|26|22.13|S|147|8|25|E|display=title,inline|type:landmark_region:AU-TAS}}

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| religious_affiliation = Judaism

| locale =

| location = 126 St. John Street, {{TAScity|Launceston}}, Tasmania

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| country = Australia

| administration = National Trust of Australia

| consecration_year = {{start date|1846}}

| organisational_status = Synagogue {{bulleted list|{{small|1846–1871}}|{{small|{{circa|1930s}}–1961}}|{{small|since 1984}}}}

| functional_status = Active

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| architect = Richard Peter Lambeth

| architecture_type = {{nowrap|Synagogue architecture}}

| architecture_style = Egyptian Revival

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| year_completed = {{start date and age|1846}}

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| designation1 = Tasmanian Heritage Register

| designation1_offname = Launceston Synagogue

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| designation1_free1name = Type

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| designation1_free2name = Category

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| designation1_free3name = Builders

| designation1_free3value = Barton and Bennell

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}}

The Launceston Synagogue is a heritage-listed building located in St. John Street, {{TAScity|Launceston}}, Tasmania, Australia, that served as a synagogue from 1846 until 1871, and again during the {{circa|1930s}} until its closure in 1961 and reopened in 1984.

History

In the 1840s the sizeable Launceston Hebrew Congregation borrowed £500 to purchase the land to build the synagogue.{{cite web|url=http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/upfiles/lcc/cont/_council/community_engagement/latest_news_june_2012/2013/1heritagewalksprintablebro.pdf|title=Launceston history tour map|publisher=Launceston.tas.gov.au|access-date=13 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006104539/http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/upfiles/lcc/cont/_council/community_engagement/latest_news_june_2012/2013/1heritagewalksprintablebro.pdf|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=dead}} The synagogue was designed by Richard Peter Lambeth{{cite web |title=Architect Personal Details: Lambeth, Richard Peter |work=Architectural works in South Australia |url=http://www.architectsdatabase.unisa.edu.au/arch_full.asp?Arch_ID=96 |publisher=Architecture Museum, University of South Australia |date=2008 |access-date=2 April 2019 }} and was built in 1844 by Tasmanian builders Barton and Bennell. The synagogue was consecrated in 1846.{{cite web|last1=Baker|first1=Emily|title=More services for Launceston synagogue|url=http://www.examiner.com.au/story/1637138/more-services-for-launceston-synagogue/|website=The Examiner|date=14 July 2013 |access-date=12 November 2017}}

After the Hobart Synagogue, the building is Australia's second-oldest synagogue,[http://www.nationaltrusttas.org.au/inivid_cons_apps/launceston_synagogue.htm National Trust of Australia (Tas) Launceston Synagogue] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321072101/http://www.nationaltrusttas.org.au/inivid_cons_apps/launceston_synagogue.htm |date=21 March 2012 }} the oldest place of non-Christian worship in Launceston, and a rare example of an Egyptian revival architecture in Australia.{{cite journal |author=Muir Appelbaum, Diana |author-link=Diana Muir |title=Jewish Identity and Egyptian Revival Architecture |journal=Journal of Jewish Identities |year=2012 |volume=5 |number=2 |page=7 }}{{cite journal |author=Wischnitzer, Rachel |author-link=Rachel Wischnitzer |title=Thomas U. Walter's Crown Street Synagogue, 1848-49 |journal=The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians |volume=13 |number=4 |date=December 1954 |pages=29–31 |doi=10.2307/987638|jstor=987638 }} The building features a distinctly trapezoidal facade and main window bearing the Star of David with a single balcony on the inside accessed via the rear of the building.

The synagogue closed as a house of worship in 1871, re-opening again in the 1930s. In 1923, Sim Crawcour and Harry Joseph were instrumental in its renovation.

In 1989, the building became listed with National Trust of Australia who have been taking care of renovations and maintenance.

Convicts

In 1847 it was arranged that all Jews in Hobart and Launceston prisons should have the privilege of attending synagogue and refraining from work on the Sabbath. Pass holders were permitted to be counted in a minyan, but they could not have honors bestowed on them.{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0019_0_19624.html|title=Tasmania|publisher=Jewishvirtuallibrary.org|access-date=13 December 2014}}

References

External links

[http://www.monissa.com/photos/launceston_synagogue.html Photographs]

Launceston Synagogue

History

Convicts

See also

References

External links

Further reading