In 1983 a Project Committee was formed to address the huge task of ensuring the restoration and preservation of St. Paul’s Church. By this time the severe erosion of the sandstone features was evident.

In 1988 this committee was transformed into a legal entity, with its own Deed of Settlement, called The St. Paul’s   Presbyterian Church Restoration Trust. The trustees are elected by the congregation.

Since that date, as a consequence of continued strong support from donors, together with grants from the Commonwealth & State Governments & the Brisbane City Council, the Trust has expended in excess of $1,700,000 on restoration work on the two buildings.

• Stabilisation of the major walls.
• Restoration of the Sunday School interior and roof.
• Restoration of the Church entrance.
• Removal of deteriorating cement render from interior walls to reveal coloured porphyry stone.
• Re-pointing of outside rear wall to prevent egress of water.
• Replacing the Church roof, restoring the surrounding stonework, and renewing the feature downpipes.
• Renewing all the air vents, replicating the original design.
• The stabilisation of the tower, the preservation of the steeple under a steel framework and a copper cladding, and the restoration of the pinnacles in Helidon stone. This was achieved in 2005 at a cost of $608,000.
• The ventilation and storm protection of the four Old Testament prophet windows (gifted by the Premier, Sir Thomas McIlwraith, in 1878) and the Sir Robert Philp Memorial window and the replacement of the two outer pinnacles. [The program of works associated with these projects was undertaken jointly between March and June 2009 at a combined cost of $163,775].

While the Restoration Trust was successful in attracting a Brisbane City Council Heritage Grant in support of the stained-glass windows project and a Queensland Government Grant under the Environment Protection Agency's "Living Buildings" program in support of the pinnacles project, the grants form only a small proportion of thetotal project costs.

Conseqluently, the Trustees are profoundly grateful for the continued financial support from the Friends' of St. Paul's that enables the Trust to continue its efforts in the restoration and preservation of our beloved F.D.G. Stanley "kirk on the hill". In 2009, donors contributed $27,812 in support of the Restoration Trust's project work for which we give many thanks.

Priorities for future project work are being pursued in conjunction with architects, but it is clear that a number of significant structural projects remain to be addressed, and these are likely to be costly.

Donors wishing to support this appeal are invited to send donations to:

National Trust-St. Paul’s Appeal*
PO Box 156
SPRING HILL QLD 4004

* Cheques should be made payable as follows:

a) If an Income Tax Deduction is required - "National Trust of Queensland - A/c St. Paul's Presbyterian Church"
b) If an Income Tax Deduction is not required - "St.Paul's Presbyterian Church Restoration Trust"

Contributions to Restoration Trust as Tributes in Memory of Loved Ones:

St. Paul's Restoration Trust accepts donations in memory of departed loved ones. 

Further details may be obtained by telephoning 07 3300 4784 or by emailing: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click here to download Appeal Form.pdf