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Hargraves Pipe Organs have completed the onsite cleaning and overhaul of the historic 1875 Mackenzie organ in St George’s Anglican Church, Flemington.
The overhaul included:

• Fitting of a new blower (The existing forge blower was so noisy the Hall could not be used whilst the organ was running!)
• Removal of the flaking “Hammertone” paint from the façade pipes (revealing traces of the original diapering)
• Gilding of façade pipe mouths
• Reconstruction of the missing turned case finials and corner brackets (based upon the examples found at St Monica’s, Footscray) 
• Casework cleaning and repair.
• Rebuttoning and adjustment of the action.
• Refelting of the Pedalboard.
• Modification to the Pedal Bourdon action to allow better access for maintenance.
• Regulating of the Pipework to its best musical effect.

This work has allowed this organ to shine in what is a perfectly matched building for this instrument.

“Praise for the improvement in the instrument”

Alan Morse, Organist of St George’s Flemington

Future works may include reconstruction of the Swell shutters.

Hargraves Organs is currently rebuilding the redundant 1967 Fincham organ from St Mary’s Anglican Church, South Camberwell.

The organ is to be installed in St Peter’s Catholic Church in Surry Hills, NSW, on the rear gallery behind new divided cases. A new switching system and some additional stops will also be installed.

St Peter’s are currently raising funds for the rebuild.  More information can be found at www.facebook.com/stpeterspipeorgan

Hargraves organs are carrying out essential repairs and cleaning to the 1889 by Fincham & Hobday that was removed from the Barkly St Uniting Church in Ballarat. The organ will be relocated to St John’s Anglican Church in Creswick. This will be the first Pipe Organ in Creswick. The gallery has been completely rebuilt to accommodate the organ. The acoustics and general aesthetics of the building have been greatly improved due to the removal of the carpet and repainting of the church.

Hargraves Organs have now completed the removal of the 1884 Fuller organ from the Girrawheen Chapel at Brighton Grammar School. Preparations are currently underway for its relocation to St Brendan’s Catholic Church in Flemington.  The organ will be installed on the rear gallery in St Brendan’s.

Hargraves Organs has completed the historic restoration of the c 1865-70 George Fincham organ. Originally located in the St. Kilda Congregational Church (now Holy Trinity St. Nicholas Russian Catholic Church), the instrument has now been returned to its original home after many years in private ownership.
Work carried out on the instrument includes:

• Releathering of the reservoirs and feeders. 
• New blowing handle.
• New blower.
• Restoration of the key and stop actions.
• Restoration of the soundboard and pipework.
• Restoration of the casework and original woodgraining.
• Restoration of the damaged and missing fretwork, installation of a new cloth backing.
• Replacement of three missing stop labels with hand engraved, salvaged ivory.

The team at Hargraves Pipe Organs Pty Ltd is very pleased to announce that we have been the successful tenderer for the restoration of the historic 1890 Kirkland Organ in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Carcoar NSW. This is one of only two organs in Australia made by this London Builder. Work is due to start in November this year and is due for completion in early April 2014.

Stay posted for more news and pictures as the restoration progresses.

After more than 5 years of significant parts of the 1927 Dodd organ of Our Lady of Victories, Glenelg not being fully functional, Hargraves Pipe Organs has now completed the restoration of the console and its pneumatics, the pedal board and the Great and Swell stop actions. The instrument has also been cleaned throughout and major tonal finishing has been completed. This has rediscovered a tonal palatte full of warmth and character.

The 1978/79 Peter Collins organ of Toorak Uniting Church has undergone major refurbishment and cleaning by Hargraves Pipe Organs. In addition to the cleaning (including all of the pipework), the organ has also had the badly worn keys recovered, and a new 250 memory level capture system installed.

The tonal enhancements to the instrument include a new Pedal 4ft Shalmey (replacing the 2ft Flute), and the organ voiced throughout. Without making any fundamental changes to the pre-existing specification and voicing, the speech of the instrument has been enhanced by careful balancing of the tonal palette both within and between divisions, to dramatic effect.