Located on Spence Road in Brisbane’s northern suburb of Wavell Heights, the brick Wavell Heights Presbyterian Church—also known as St Luke’s—was formally entered into the Queensland Heritage Register on 9 September 2022. The listing recognises its Modernist design and its place in the story of post-war suburban growth and worship in Queensland.
From Rural Edges to Suburban Faith
Before the housing boom of the 1940s and 1950s, the area now known as Wavell Heights lay on the traditional lands of the Turrbal people and was largely rural, known for small farms and dairies. As Brisbane expanded northward, families moved in, and in 1948 the Presbyterian Church of Queensland purchased about ten acres along Spence Road for a proposed War Memorial Hospital. By January 1949, a small congregation had begun meeting under the care of the Nundah charge.
Within a few years, the growing congregation needed a more permanent meeting place. A timber church hall was built in 1951 and dedicated in 1952. The hall hosted worship services and an expanding Sunday School that by 1957 had 341 children and about 200 families involved. The growing membership reflected both the suburb’s post-war development and the sense of connection forming among its residents.
Designing a Modern Church for a Changing Time
By 1961, plans were underway for a larger brick church that would reflect modern ideas about faith and space. The architectural firm Cross & Bain, with James William Gibson as project architect, was appointed on 4 November 1964 to design the new building. Construction proceeded in 1966 after the lowest tender from Macquarie Constructions was accepted, and the church was dedicated on 19 November 1966.
The resulting building stands as a strong example of post-war Modernist church design in Queensland. Departing from the long nave of traditional churches, Gibson used a pentagonal plan so that no worshipper sat far from the pulpit or communion table. The folded, metal-clad roof and amber-glazed windows create an interior filtered with warm light, while the use of face brick emphasises simplicity and honesty of materials.
The interior arrangement reflected the liturgical renewal of the 1950s and 1960s, which encouraged a more gathered form of worship. The pulpit and communion table share a single platform, symbolising the equality of Word and Sacrament. A central skylight above the baptismal font anchors the plan, drawing focus to light and inclusion. Red-cedar furnishings designed for the space complete the interior’s unified style.
Recognition and Protection
When Wavell Heights News reported the nomination in 2022, local leaders noted that the building had remained largely unchanged since its dedication. The Queensland Heritage Council later confirmed the church’s entry in the state register for its architectural innovation and for illustrating the evolution of Presbyterian church design in the mid-twentieth century.
Under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992, the 1966 church building and its immediate grounds are now protected. Earlier structures and the later manse are excluded from the listing, but the recognition secures the main church’s architectural and cultural values for the future.
Continuity and Community
The church remains highly intact. Recent works—such as air-conditioning in 2019 and a new PWD toilet block in 2020—have supported ongoing use without altering the original structure. Today, St Luke’s continues to function as a place of worship and gathering for Wavell Heights residents.
Its continued presence tells a broader story of how Brisbane’s suburbs evolved after World War II. As new communities formed, buildings like St Luke’s gave shape to shared faith and civic life. Now recognised on the Queensland Heritage Register, the church stands as both a physical and historical marker of that suburban transformation.
Published 20-Oct-2025
