Gordon Baptist Church – 1 Garden Square

  • Description Community facilities
  • Location Gordon
  • Sector Community
  • Sub-Sector Community, Cultural, Lifestyle, Wellness
  • Specialties Adaptive Reuse, Additions, Alterations, Heritage
  • Contract Type Fixed Lump Sum
  • Delivery Method Construct Only
  • Client Baptist Churches of New South Wales Property Trust
  • Architect DEM
  • Photographer Paramount Studios
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The transformation of 1 Garden Square represents a significant investment in creating welcoming, functional and spiritually grounded spaces for the Gordon Baptist Church community. Through the adaptive reuse of a derelict Inter‑War Spanish Mission bungalow, the project delivers new places of worship, gathering and support.

Working within a deteriorated heritage building presented a series of complex construction challenges. The team navigated restricted access, proximity to neighbouring properties, and the need to protect significant trees and landscape features. Integrating services and connections into an ageing structure required careful planning, while remediation works were undertaken sensitively to preserve the building’s historic fabric. These constraints were managed through staged works, close coordination with stakeholders, and a strong focus on safety and heritage conservation.

The design prioritised the retention of important architectural elements while introducing contemporary, functional spaces that respect the property’s heritage significance. The front portion of the dwelling was restored and upgraded to provide safe, comfortable meeting rooms and offices for Church staff and ministries. A new single‑storey rear addition delivers a flexible multipurpose hall accommodating up to 80 people, opening seamlessly to landscaped outdoor areas suitable for gatherings and community activities. Sustainability initiatives included solar power and water retention and reuse. The reinstated Inter‑war garden layout restores the property’s original character.

8143 Gordon Baptist Church Main Scaled

The full scope of works included partial demolition, restoration, alterations and additions to the existing dwelling; construction of the new multipurpose hall; provision of meeting rooms, amenities and breakout spaces; extensive landscaping; and upgrades to services and site infrastructure. Overgrown vegetation was cleared, heritage elements stabilised and restored, and new outdoor areas created to support a wide range of Church and community uses.

In its renewed form, 1 Garden Square ensures the continued use and conservation of a valued heritage property while expanding the Church’s capacity to serve the local community.