From the first European settlement in Australia, Jews were arriving with 1788’s First Fleet. The first settlement was in NSW, but soon spread to Tasmania and then Victoria. Along with explorer John Batman, founder of Melbourne, Jewish Joseph Solomon was a member of Port Phillip Society. It was in that society that Solomon with Batman received a grant of land from the local aboriginal community in 1835.
`Mikveh Yisrael Synagogue and School,
Exhibition St Melbourne, 1859
architects Knight and Kerr.
National Trust Data Base
Church Lane doesn’t have a church in it as it used to. And nearby Synagogue Lane doesn’t have a synagogue in it anymore, renamed Little Queen St in 1968. So why did only one of the two lanes not keep its name? Historian Robyn Annear* said that it was renamed as Bourke Lane in a civic cleansing ahead of the 1880 International Exhibition. The name change was recorded by Public Works Committee in June, suggesting the new name reduced annoyances directed at those attending Lt Bourke St. So was it an anti-Semitic move or one designed to stop problems for local Jews? Read Street names: Why was Synagogue Lane renamed? .
By the time a separate Victorian state was established in 1851, Melbourne Jewry had their new classical Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and early congregational Presidents and Board members became aldermen and councillors of Melbourne City Council. Jews could go into both State Houses of Parl-iament, the Oaths of Office Simplification Bill in 1857 repealing the oath that parliamentarians swore: On the true faith of a Christian.
East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, front entrance (above) and interior (below)
Bourke St Hebrew Congregation
opened 1848
The 2nd President Asher Hyman Hart asked Melbourne's Mayor to offer a reward for discovering gold, north of the city. Thankfully for Melbourne, the discoveries that led to the Gold Rush of 1851 slowed the emigration to NSW. These boom times and economic explosion gave Melbourne its marvellous Victorian heritage, and brought many European migrants. Since first Rabbi Moses Rintel in 1849, the congregation has been loyally served by a number of rabbis. A fine man was Rabbi Dr Israel Brodie, who went from St Kilda Rd pulpit to Chief Rabbi of British Empire pre-WW2.
Melbourne’s synagogue had been established in 1847 in Bourke St, but Rabbi Rintel & followers parted in 1857. A second congregation had formed in East Melbourne, mostly recently arrived German Jews after a doctrinal disagreement with the synagogue committee. They met in hired premises till a small synagogue was complete in 1860 in Lit Lonsdale St. They had no permanent meeting place for 20 years until the new East Melbourne Synagogue in Albert St opened Sept 1877. But the facade wasn’t finished till 1883.
The Melbourne Synagogue came from noted Melbourne architects Crouch and Wilson. It was inspired by Melbourne’s old Bourke St synagogue. East Melbourne is socially significant for its link with that Jewish community, mainly as a focal-point for religious facilities. It is also significant for its imposing Renaissance Revival facade with the addition of the 2 octagonal domes flanking the central pediment and the survival of the tabernacle and altar. The two-storeyed rendered brick building had a slate roof. The facade was also completed in the Renaissance Revival style with 5 bays, projecting slightly on the pedimented temple front. Star of David was set in bas-relief in the tympanum. A parapet was carried over the tympanum and the cornice. Twin octagonal domes flank the central pediment. The internal space had a gallery on 3 sides on cast iron columns and the main ceiling was panelled with cornices. Victorian Heritage added the site to its Register.
The original Bourke St Synagogue was sold in 1929 when it became and stayed a justice firm. When the new site was chosen, there was a strong Jewish presence in Toorak. So the congregation moved to the new site, designed by congregant Nahum Barnet in Toorak Rd, and the foundation stone of the building was laid in Ap 1929. The interior was inspired by the Bourke St synagogue, with a Corinthian portico, copper-clad dome and glass stained windows. Barnet's plan agreed with that of overseas synagogues of Interwar Academic Classical design: semi-circular seating and a ladies' gallery. Interior decorations include stained glass windows created by Karl Duldig. In 1930 the community moved to its present Toorak site, Toorak & Kilda Rds. St Kilda Rd is one of the world’s great boulevards where congregants could walk to the new synagogue on Sabbath.
Melbourne Hebrew Congregation/Toorak synagogue,
front steps (above); interior (below)
Melbourne Hebrew Congregation/Toorak synagogue, of a grand design with the best Tasmanian black-wood carving, now has 1350 seats and 900+ members. With a dome 100+ feet high, it is an iconic building with Heritage overlay. It’s seen as the Cathedral Synagogue, the primary synagogue that hosts state and national events.
After 180+ years, Melbourne had c50 orthodox congregations, plus a few Liberal-Reform congregations and a Conservative synagogue. Post-WW2 immigration boosted a Eurocentric Jewish community but soon European approaches combined in a more Australian outlook. Melbourne is very cosmopolitan and Jews have been able to succeed in this society since it began. There have been many successful academics, scientists, judges, engineers, medicos, lawyers and business people. Past members of the congregation have included two Governors-General: Sir Isaac Isaacs & Sir Zelman Cowen; Sir Benjamin Benjamin succeeded with Exhibition Building; Gen. Sir John Monash was the most effective WWI commander & superb civil engineer
Read J Aron & J Arndt, Enduring Remnant, history of the first 150 years of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation 1841–1991, Melb UP, 1992.
After 180+ years, Melbourne had c50 orthodox congregations, plus a few Liberal-Reform congregations and a Conservative synagogue. Post-WW2 immigration boosted a Eurocentric Jewish community but soon European approaches combined in a more Australian outlook. Melbourne is very cosmopolitan and Jews have been able to succeed in this society since it began. There have been many successful academics, scientists, judges, engineers, medicos, lawyers and business people. Past members of the congregation have included two Governors-General: Sir Isaac Isaacs & Sir Zelman Cowen; Sir Benjamin Benjamin succeeded with Exhibition Building; Gen. Sir John Monash was the most effective WWI commander & superb civil engineer
Read J Aron & J Arndt, Enduring Remnant, history of the first 150 years of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation 1841–1991, Melb UP, 1992.
And R Annear, City Lost and Found: Whelan the Wrecker’s Melbourne 2014*
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20 comments:
What happened to the Bourke St building. I don't think I ever saw it.
Hello Hels, I like the Bourke Street temple the best, with its striking Greek Revival architecture. Do you know if the interior is in the same or a different style? Since it has been decommissioned as a temple, it would make a good single-family home if I ever moved to Australia!
--Jim
Joe
Australians didn't live in the centre of a capital city, wherever possible. So when the Jewish citizens moved to Carlton and Brunswick, they opened small synagogues in those northern suburbs. Ditto St Kilda etc in the southern suburbs.
The old synagogue in the centre of town was demolished in 1929.
Parnassus
Not just decommissioned but demolished :(
I found this reference to the Bourke St Synagogue in https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=%22bourke%20st%22%20synagogue%20melbourne
but so far I cannot even find a single interior photo :(
If you are moving to Australia, let me know ahead of time and I will look around for an excellent single-family home. Just let me know any financial, geographical and weather limits.
I can't remember seeing the East Melbourne synagogue but in photos, it is a very nice looking building.
"congregants could walk to the new synagogue on Sabbath." Or get off the tram one stop early and walk the last 150 metres.
Is there a reason for various colored seats, or is it just a design choice? Stay cool. I bet it's quite hot.
Erika
no reason for cushions at all and no reason for the different colours. I just assume the elderly congregants would get a numb bum after 2-2.5 hours of sitting and standing.
Very hot yes - 42c today :( I wonder if these 19th century Renaissance Revival style buildings protected the congregation from being overly heated in summer.
Andrew
Being close enough to walk is important for those congregants who don't use cars or trams on Sabbath. But in any case, East Melbourne was very elegant and welcoming, much bigger and better than the little old houses used as synagogues in Carlton and surrounds.
Have a look at inside the synagogue, this time facing the Ark.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10172020431365381&set=pcb.10172020450540381
The Former Mikveh Yisrael Synagogue and Hebrew School was constructed in 1859 to a design by the architects Knight and Kerr. It was used as such until 1877 when a new Synagogue was built in Albert Street, East Melbourne. It then became State School No 2030 until 1892, and subsequently had a number of educational, social welfare and child care uses. The building is a simple single storey brick structure on a basalt plinth, with pedimented gables, brick pilasters and arched windows with brick dressings.
The Former Mikveh Yisrael Synagogue is of historical significance as one of the oldest synagogues in Melbourne and as a testament to the contribution of the Jewish community to the development of this city.
Every one of them is beautiful! The multicoloured chairs really appeal to me and the Toorak Synagogue is just glorious. It speaks of the expanse of the heavens.
I had to look up the Jewish population in Melbourne. It says it between 53,000 and 55,000. See you made me curious.
peppy
"Religion" is a voluntary variable in the national census i.e people need not answer it, if they choose not to. So 60,000 Jews in Melbourne in 2025 was probably as accurate as we are going to get.
Of the 28 synagogues in Melbourne, mostly in the SE suburbs (Caulfield, Malvern, Elwood, St Kilda) and mostly modern looking. 19th century beauty is sadly from an era long gone.
National Trust Database
Despite being born and raised in Melbourne, I had never heard of Mikveh Yisrael Synagogue and Hebrew School. So many thanks for the information.
And now I found "Victoria's Past - Rescued and Retold"
https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2020/09/rabbi-rintels-synagogue-becomes-city.html
kylie
Toorak Synagogue is architecturally stunning, decorated lushly, has seats for 1,400 people, is located perfectly on two beautiful Melbourne boulevards and handles most important public functions eg royal visits.
And my parents were married there :)
The Toorak is very nice.
The interior view of the Hebrew Congregation is very nice. Is there any special significance to the colourful chairs?
Toorak synagogue if a wonderful building and the interior is also great, love Tasmanian blackwood :)
diane
Toorak is VERY nice, and I haven't even mentioned the acoustics yet. Note Toorak Synagogue has been one of the favourite sites in Melbourne to hold concerts. In 2025, there were many important events eg
1] A piano concert featuring Liszt, Mozart, and Chopin by Alexander Gavrylyuk and
2] French firecracker with virtuosic Sergej Krylov on his 1710 Stradivari and Konstantin Shamray at the piano. The French flair of Ravel, sparkling wit of Saint-Saëns, and radiant romanticism of Franck.
River
no religious significance at all. Only comfort for us elderly ladies who have to climb up the stairs first and then need a soft bottom during the long service. My granddaughters feel sorry for me :)
Margaret
Tasmanian blackwood is an expensive hardwood timber that the architects had to think long and hard about. But the colour is so gorgeous and the texture is so rich and workable, they made the right decision.
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