German Lutheran Church

From SOJ August/September 1979, Spring 2002:

Details of the first organ are not known but it is thought that the instrument now residing in St Stephen's Church, Mittagong (Walcker, 1861) may have originally been here before being moved to All Saint's, Singleton in 1868, then to St Peter's, Hamilton in 1890 and then to Mittagong in 1971.

The second organ was built by the Sydney organbuilder, Charles Richardson, and was completed in 1894. The opening recital was presented by Augustus Gehde on 28th February. Costing "rather more than £300", the organ consisted of two manuals, 11 stops, 4 couplers and mechanical action. It was contained in a case of kauri with ceder console fittings. Frederick Ladegast, son of the farmous German organbuilder Johann Frederick Ladegast, was working for Richardson at the time and helped with its construction. S.T.Noad made some tonal alterations to this instrument in 1968. This organ was removed in 1979, rebuilt and installed in St John's Anglican Church, Young, by Brown & Arkley.

A new organ was ordered from Karl Schuke, Berlin and was opened in 1980. The specification of this organ was drawn up by Prof. Dr Arno Schönstedt of Herford, Germany, together with David Rumsey from the Sydney Conservatorium. This organ has been used for many years as a teaching and practice instrument for students from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.