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Sale of Devonshire Street meeting house, Sydney
This page will be updated as more information is received.
Breaking News - Devonshire Street meeting house has been sold
Devonshire Street meeting house has been sold, to a Buddhist organisation, the Australian Lingyin Buddhist Association
Incorporated (Lingyin Buddhists), which will take vacant possession on 2 December 2024. We understand the building will be used as a place of worship, with a senior monk living in the warden’s flat. This could be an opportunity to develop a relationship with the organisation such as for inter-faith work and peace making.
- From 11 to 16 October, some Friends were filmed while talking about their memories of the meeting house.
- On Sunday 17 November, Friends will hold the final meeting for worship at the Devonshire Street meeting house. This event will be live-streamed; please contact the NSWRM Clerking team for the link at rmnswclerk@quakersaustralia.info.
From late November on, Friends will worship at "Pilgrim House", Pitt Street Uniting Church, Sydney.
Please hold Devonshire Street Friends in the Light during this period of transition.
Summary
The Devonshire Street Meeting House has served Friends for over 120 years, providing a home for an inner-city Quaker Meeting, accommodating travelling Friends, providing a community space for other groups to meet, hosting the AYM Secretary and QSA offices, as well as a swathe of meetinghouse wardens who have overseen this extraordinary hospitality.
The burden of caring for the Meetinghouse began to be expressed as early as 1971. In 2017, the Sydney Light Rail construction in Devonshire Street and on the meetinghouse doorstep for 20 months caused major problems in the use of the building, and in 2020 COVID lockdowns continued these problems. The difficulties of reduced human and financial resources in an environment of increasing need for time and money led the Devonshire Street Local Meeting in 2022 to recommend that the NSW Regional Meeting sell the meetinghouse. (This document outlines a summary of reasons to sell.)
The matter was formally considered at NSW Regional Meetings held in September 2022, and again in February 2023. A final decision to sell the meetinghouse was made at the NSW Regional Meeting held November 2023. A special NSW Regional Meeting for Worship for Business was called to make the final decision on the buyer's offer on 10 August 2024
This is a sadness and also an opportunity. It is well to remember that George Fox was convinced that God "dwelleth in the hearts of his obedient people", and that religious experience is not confined to a church building or "steeple house". Fox would just as soon worship in fields and orchards, believing that God's presence could be felt anywhere. We will be living adventurously as we find a new home for the Meeting to be gathered.
Sale Process
A Sale Committee was established and a real estate agent engaged. The property was put on the market in early May 2024 https://www.realcommercial.com.au/for-sale/property-society-of-friends-meeting-hall-119-123-devonshire-street-surry-hills-nsw-2010-504581868. Interest was strong.
Expressions of Interest closed 10 July 2024. There were several interested buyers who made a provisional Expression of Interest to buy the building. Due diligence processes followed, and contracts were exchanged on 30 August.