Synod Hall 1.39

Synod Hall is a heritage-listed Anglican church hall at 36 Cleveland Terrace, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1897 to 1898. It is also known as Jubilee Hall and Parish Room. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.HistorySynod Hall was opened during the first week of January 1898.Townsville was founded in November 1864. Although it is not known when the first Church of England services were held in the township it is known that the first services were conducted in the Court House, which was built by March 1866. These services were conducted by local lay preachers or itinerant ministers. In February 1866 Rev Mr Searle, visiting minister from Bowen, requested the appointment of an incumbent to the parish of Townsville with Rev James Adams accepting the position by mid 1866.On 24 December 1872 land for a church was purchased on Melton Hill by trustees James Gordon, Frederick Walker and William Aplin. In February, 1884 control of the land passed to the Corporation of the Diocesan Synod of North Queensland.On 18 November 1887 tenders were called for the construction of a "Parish Room", to be built to a design prepared by Townsville architectural firm Eyre and Munro. The building does not appear to have been constructed at that time because the Mayor and Alderman of the Townsville Town Council received a letter, dated Thursday 30 December 1897, from St James Parochial Council inviting them to the official opening of the Jubilee Hall on the following Wednesday 5 January 1898.