Time to provide feedback on proposed changes at St Margaret's Church: feedback.stmargarets@gmail.com

Please read the article below by Father Desmond Moloney PP. It lays out future plans for the church of St Margarets and places these plans in their historical context. Then when you are ready email us back with your opinions, suggestions and even your memories of the life of St Margarets community over the years.

On the 16th November, 2025, St. Mary’s Parish received the Building Audit & Condition Report on St. Margaret’s Church prepared by Ultum. The Parish Masterplan Reference Group met on 9th December to discuss the Report and determine a response.

The Masterplan Reference Group gave four recommendations:

• that in line with the community feedback (through the survey regarding investment priorities related to the Masterplan): the Presbytery and community space were identified as top priorities.

• that in order to manage expenditure the Parish community exit the property (St. Margaret’s) by November 2026.

• that the property be demolished and the land be sold.

• that a communication strategy be developed to inform the community of this outcome.

I have largely accepted these recommendations. Although further discussions are to be held concerning the timeline as well as what may occur with the land. I intend to provide more information in the coming week or two, covering structural, safety, and financial issues and the requirements of the Archdiocese. The decision to move towards the close of St. Margaret’s Church is most significant in the history of St. Mary’s Parish. In an ideal world this would not take place. In my view, ideally, the parish would want to see a new church replacing the existing one. There is much to acknowledge about the history of St. Margaret’s Church and the experience of parishioners. I make available an email address for the Reception of Feedback: feedback.stmargarets@gmail.com



Below the two principal dates may be seen in relation to St. Margaret’s Church and some detail relating to the establishment of the church and its opening.

1947

Land for St Margaret’s Church was purchased by Father Bakker.

1949

Excerpts are from an article in the Advocate, Thursday 14 July 1949, on the occasion of the opening of St Margaret's Church, which occurred on the previous Sunday. This means that it will be the church’s seventy- seventh anniversary on 10 July.

The reason for the expansion of our parish there was “to provide for the increasing number of Catholics in Maribyrnong.” Apparently, it was a “long felt desire” of Father Bakker to establish a Catholic presence there. “A few years ago Catholic families in this district could be counted on the fingers of both hands.” “Others have since come to Maribyrnong.”

When Father Bakker needed a place for the celebration of Mass in Maribyrnong the Council placed the local hall at his disposal. “For some time the Catholic people at Maribyrnong, which is part of the Ascot Vale parish, have attended Mass on Sundays at the district hall. The need for better provision has been met by the setting up of St. Margaret’s Church on a prominent site in Maribyrnong. The Church was formerly the chapel for the Catholic troops at the Broadmeadows Camp. It was purchased by Very Rev. H. Bakker PP for £500. It’s re-erection and equipment and the site cost £4875, and the present debt is £2225.

Father Catarinich said there were forty Catholic families at Maribyrnong and they were remarkably generous. Functions held in the district in aid of church funds have been well patronised by Catholics and non Catholics and £2650 of the debt had already been paid. There had been difficulties in connection with religious celebrations in the past, but these had now been overcome by the erection of St Margaret's Church. Pontifical Benediction was given by Archbishop Mannix, assisted by Fathers Bakker, Catarinich and Rafter. St Mary’s Girls’ Choir, Ascot Vale, sang the hymns.

1. Structural Issues

a. The recommendation of the building surveyors is unequivocal, stating that the church has "reached the end of its economic and functional life" that "ongoing maintenance and compliance upgrades are no longer cost-effective, and the "full demolition" of the building is required.

b. Successive professional assessments and subsequent condition reports have concluded that St. Margaret's Church:

i By November 2026 will not comply with six different Australian Standards and National Construction Code requirements, necessitating immediate removal and replacement of gutters; internal walls; floors; building foundations; electrical systems; and fire-prevention doors and hardware.

ii. Within the next three years will be non-compliant with 17 Australian Standards and National Construction Code requirements.

c. St. Margaret's Church demonstrates a wide spread of condition ratings, with critical failures conditions 7-10 concentrated in building cladding, flooring and general structure. These represent immediate risks.

d. A high proportion condition 5-6, reflecting deterioration that will escalate if not addressed The remainder condition 3-4 are serviceable but ageing.

e. The Church has a single item listed as 2, indicating that most assets are late to end of life and require replacement soon.

2. Safety lssues

a. Important to note the likelihood of increasing safety issues.

b. Refer above to c), d), and e).

c. High risk: gas heaters, 2025 recommended replacement year.

3. Financial lssues

a. Adjusting for current building and construction costs inflation will require $711,656 to achieve a base level of compliance.

b. Will only achieve compliance at the earliest by 2035.

c. As a consequence. St. Margaret's will be uninsurable as a consequence of this non-compliance, exposing the parish and archdiocese to considerable legal risk which may result in significant financial penalties.

d. The cost estimate ($526,132) of essentially rebuilding St. Margaret's will be borne by the parish, which will compromise its ability to engage in its ongoing mission of faith.

February 20th,2026 - Masterplan Report prepared by Harmer Architecture referencing St Margaret's Church:

It is also considered that the disposal of the St Margaret's Church property in Maribyrnong is inevitable, given its small congregation; but above all, significantly expensive ongoing maintenance issues, including the asbestos roof, and major non-compliance issues for its use as a place of assembly, in relation to the Building Code of Australia, making the disposal of this property a foregone conclusion.

The Parish understands that St Margaret's has its own history and connections to the community, however, both for St Margaret's and St. Mary's sites already fall within a single united parish, that

will ultimately operate exclusively on the St Leonards Road site of St. Mary's. Last month, the average Sunday Mass attendance over three Sundays at St. Margaret's Church

was 58.