Former Sion Chapel And Presbytery

The former Sion Chapel and Presbytery, now an Italian Club, was built in 1873 by the architects Lockwood and Mawson for the Baptists. It is contemporary with the Town Hall and features a rich Italianate classical style. The building is constructed of sandstone ashlar and has a large rectangular plan, with the chapel extending back along Peckover Street and the presbytery occupying the far end of the site.

The façade has a 1:3:1 bay arrangement and includes an engaged, richly carved Corinthian portico with central columns and terminal pilasters, backed by quarter pilasters. It features a deep entablature and a modillion-bracketed pediment with acrotaria. The entablature extends over one window in the slightly recessed flanking bays, which are adorned with giant Corinthian quoin pilasters. The portico has three panelled doors, with broad pilasters supporting the entablature at the first-floor level. The first-floor windows are set in shouldered moulded architraves, each topped with small pediments and carved apron panels. A carved scrolled lead decoration is present in the circular date panel located in the tympanum of the portico pediment.

On the return to Peckover Street, there is one bay that is similar, while the side range leading to the presbytery is plain sandstone brick. The presbytery features a two-storey elevation with seven bays, including sill bands and a bracketed eaves cornice. The roof is slate, with corniced chimneys. The windows have recessed sills with apron panels, and the reveals extend down to the sill band on the first floor. There is a panelled door with a rectangular fanlight above, which has a moulded cornice supported by fluted console brackets.