Geraldton diocese working to preserve the renowned works of architect priest John Hawes

by Natasha Harradine

St Francis Xavier Cathedral is among church buildings designed by Monsignor John Hawes.(ABC Mid West and Wheatbelt: Cecile O'Connor)

In a town of just 200 people in Western Australia's grain belt sits a tall, white church that seemingly has more visitors interested in its architecture than worship these days. 

It is one of dozens designed by architect priest Monsignor John Hawes during his time in the Midwest region from 1915 to 1939.

Professional decorative painter and restorer Phil Reeves is at work in St Joseph's Catholic Church in Perenjori.

"Tucked away in the middle of nowhere, it's a little gem isn't it," he said. 

It is the third Hawes building Mr Reeves has worked on despite not knowing who the designer was until he uncovered some significant finds at the Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral in Geraldton. 

He describes those as a "treasure trove of stuff" left by Hawes, which includes frescoes and lost Latin scripts.

Mr Reeves said the interest was extraordinary, given St Joseph's location off the beaten track. 

"The amount of architects that drop in here from Europe, all across Australia, the architect from the monastery in Perth I met here last week," he said.

Phil Reeves applies gold leaf as part of works at St Joseph's in Perenjori.
(ABC Midwest Wheatbelt: Natasha Harradine)

Mr Reeves is working on St Joseph's thanks to a fundraising effort by the Geraldton and Perth Vietnamese community, which donated money to the church after Cyclone Seroja tore through the state’s Midwest.

But restoration and upkeep on buildings that were about 100 years old was ongoing and expensive. 

With 17 buildings by Hawes under the ownership of the Geraldton diocese, attention was turning to how to guarantee their future.

Better appreciation internationally

Geraldton diocese heritage director Robert Cross said there was not enough appreciation locally for the works of Hawes.

"The driving philosophy behind Hawes works was what they called the arts and crafts movement, which was a reaction to 19th century industrialisation that demeaned the work of people," he said.

"We have here in the Midwest one of the most significant collections of art and craft buildings in the whole world.

"We have people visiting these places from all over the world and they come specifically … to see these buildings."

He says previous grants from state and federal governments have been very welcome but the diocese can no longer afford the maintenance. 

Restorer and decorator Shane Dearie at work in St Joseph's.(ABC Midwest Wheatbelt: Natasha Harradine)

In 2021, St Joseph's was one of a number of church buildings damaged when Cyclone Seroja struck. 

"The cyclone really hammered in a nail, you might say, to the coffin of the church's ability to continue to maintain these places," Mr Cross said. 

"Just to pay the insurance on these places is, in some cases, more than the income of the parish itself."

The church has launched the John Hawes Foundation with the hope of raising funds to conserve the remaining buildings it owns. 

It is also exploring so-called champing, which originated in the UK, and which involves overnight camping in a church or significant building to help raise money towards its conservation.

St Joseph's church was built in 1937.(ABC Midwest Wheatbelt: Natasha Harradine)

First published at ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt, September 3, 2023