Jewish Chapel Fawkner

Consultation has concluded

The Jewish mortuary chapel or Metahr House sits in a small plot of land surrounded by kerbed roadways, situated at the southern end of First Avenue in Fawkner Memorial Park.

This heritage registered building was erected in 1919 by the Melbourne Chevra Kadisha as the other Jewish Chapel on site at the time (since demolished) was only open to members of the Melbourne and East Melbourne Congregations.

The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) has obtained heritage approvals for the works which will commence on 4 April and conclude on 26 April. During the works the chapels will be fenced off and there will be no road closures.

GMCT is seeking members of the community that have a connection to the Chapel to help us understand and share the social, cultural, religious and historical significance. If you have a connection to the Jewish Chapel, then please add your ideas to the online conversation below or contact us at community@gmct.com.au.


Project background

As part of GMCT's commitment to preserving heritage assets and providing safe community spaces, we engaged consultants to conduct an inspection of the Jewish Chapel between March-April 2020.

The inspection report showed that the Chapel needed remedial work and restoration. In March 2020, GMCT sent letters to local Jewish organisations notifying them of the required works and requesting legal owners to come forward. To date, GMCT research and engagement has not identified any legal owners of the Chapel. We are continuing our search for the legal owner(s). In the meantime, to ensure the building does not deteriorate, GMCT is seeking approval from Heritage Victoria to undertake the restoration.


Chapel history and details

A Jewish section was conceived as part of the original layout of the cemetery, to the west of the main radial fan of streets. The Jewish section was consecrated along with the first burial in August 1910. The first Jewish Chapel, also known as a Metahr house, was erected shortly after, in 1910-11.

The Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Funeral Society) were not permitted to use the Chapel, and as such erected their own Metahr house in 1918 (Jewish Herald 14 Apr 1919:15). The second Jewish Chapel is located at the southern end of First Avenue, the first one, whose exact location is unknown, has since been demolished.

The building was used for laying out a body. A door at each end is set within an overhanging porch surmounted with a Star of David (Mogen David). Circular windows are fitted with leaded glass also in the Mogen David pattern. The doors have a cast iron pattern in interlocking semi-circles. The small chapel is dominated by massive corner piers with domed tops and a surface of white painted rough cast render. The chapel has been re-roofed with a green Colorbond and folded metal fascias have been used. An internal plaque records the presenting of the chapel by Maurice Goldstein of the Melbourne Chevra Kadisha on 23 March 1920 and its consecration, a year previously in April 1919.

The Jewish mortuary chapel or Metahr House sits in a small plot of land surrounded by kerbed roadways, situated at the southern end of First Avenue in Fawkner Memorial Park.

This heritage registered building was erected in 1919 by the Melbourne Chevra Kadisha as the other Jewish Chapel on site at the time (since demolished) was only open to members of the Melbourne and East Melbourne Congregations.

The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) has obtained heritage approvals for the works which will commence on 4 April and conclude on 26 April. During the works the chapels will be fenced off and there will be no road closures.

GMCT is seeking members of the community that have a connection to the Chapel to help us understand and share the social, cultural, religious and historical significance. If you have a connection to the Jewish Chapel, then please add your ideas to the online conversation below or contact us at community@gmct.com.au.


Project background

As part of GMCT's commitment to preserving heritage assets and providing safe community spaces, we engaged consultants to conduct an inspection of the Jewish Chapel between March-April 2020.

The inspection report showed that the Chapel needed remedial work and restoration. In March 2020, GMCT sent letters to local Jewish organisations notifying them of the required works and requesting legal owners to come forward. To date, GMCT research and engagement has not identified any legal owners of the Chapel. We are continuing our search for the legal owner(s). In the meantime, to ensure the building does not deteriorate, GMCT is seeking approval from Heritage Victoria to undertake the restoration.


Chapel history and details

A Jewish section was conceived as part of the original layout of the cemetery, to the west of the main radial fan of streets. The Jewish section was consecrated along with the first burial in August 1910. The first Jewish Chapel, also known as a Metahr house, was erected shortly after, in 1910-11.

The Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Funeral Society) were not permitted to use the Chapel, and as such erected their own Metahr house in 1918 (Jewish Herald 14 Apr 1919:15). The second Jewish Chapel is located at the southern end of First Avenue, the first one, whose exact location is unknown, has since been demolished.

The building was used for laying out a body. A door at each end is set within an overhanging porch surmounted with a Star of David (Mogen David). Circular windows are fitted with leaded glass also in the Mogen David pattern. The doors have a cast iron pattern in interlocking semi-circles. The small chapel is dominated by massive corner piers with domed tops and a surface of white painted rough cast render. The chapel has been re-roofed with a green Colorbond and folded metal fascias have been used. An internal plaque records the presenting of the chapel by Maurice Goldstein of the Melbourne Chevra Kadisha on 23 March 1920 and its consecration, a year previously in April 1919.