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The Great Synagogue

The Great Synagogue187a Elizabeth Street, Sydney
1878 Thomas Rowe. Partly supervised by Walter Liberty Vernon
1973 Orwell Phillips and Kevin Gallagher (facade cleaned, gates restored)

The merging of two separate Jewish congregations was the catalyst for building a new and larger synagogue in Sydney. The elaborately decorated building is noted for its fine detail (particularly columns and capitals) and a high standard of craftsmanship in carved sandstone. Clearly the design was inspired by English synagogues in London and Liverpool, incorporating exotic architectural forms in an attempt to find an appropriate eclectic style. The ornate cast-iron gates and detailed sandstone craftsmanship are noteworthy.

Information appearing in this section is reproduced from Sydney Architecture, with the kind permission of the author, Graham Jahn, a well-known Sydney architect and former City of Sydney Councillor. Sydney Architecture, rrp $35.00, is available from all good book stores or from the publisher, Watermark Press, Telephone: 02 9818 5677.

Last Updated: Wednesday 12 December, 2007

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