In an activity familiar to a lot of us during these recent weeks, Ian Ross, a 72 year old, retired Building Designer living in Launceston Tasmania has been taking advantage of the pandemic lockdown to clean out his old (work) "stuff”.

Amongst his files Ian found this beautiful photo of the model of the chapel at Aspley:

Ian says of the photo: “I was a first year architecture student in 1966 working for Lund Hutton Newell and Paulsen Architects at Toowong…..[when] I built [this] model of the design by Spence Jamieson for presentation of the design to the church building committee.”

(Lund Hutton Newell and Paulsen Architects were the architects for the chapel at 21 Safari Street Aspley.)

The impressive scale and beauty of the building was realised in 1968 as the building was completed and subsequently opened for worshipers.

"The completed Aspley Church was presented to the neighbourhood with an open day on Saturday, 2nd November, 1968. On Sunday November 3rd at 2 p.m., approximately 120 people attended an opening service. Gilbert Porter presided over the meeting. Pastor Ron Shaw welcomed visitors. Addresses were given by Elder A.R. (Jack) Gunning, and Elder Ray Burdekin. Bishop Phil Judd presented the keys of the building to Deacon Lindsay Gordon." 100 Years of History of the RLDS Church in Queensland & Northern NSW 1901-2001, p. 54

Thanks to Dione Jacka from the Brisbane congregation for passing on the photo and commentary from Ian Ross. Appreciation also to Mission Center Historian, Margaret Morris, for providng the information on the opening dates for this Aspley chapel and the quote from 100 Years of History of the RLDS Church in Queensland & Northern NSW 1901-2001.