Salvation Army Heritage Centre
Salvation Army Heritage Centre
4.5
About
This center tracks the Salvation Army's Australian origins, its role in various wars and its little-known, but significant, contributions to Australia's film industry. Tambourines, trumpets and other Army memorabilia are on display.
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Neighbourhood: Central Business District
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4.5
18 reviews
Excellent
11
Very good
5
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Leonie B
Sydney, Australia15 contributions
Jan 2022
A fascinating small museum with exhibits relating to the history of the Salvation Army in Victoria. It's located upstairs in a historic building the Salvation Army has owned for over 100 years. The manager showed me around, regaling me with fascinating stories concerning some of the artifacts which included uniforms, books, photos, souvenirs of early outback aircraft ministries, World War 2 ministries, brass band paraphernalia. The Limelight Studios were of particular interest. This is where many Salvation Army silent movies were produced, including "Soldiers of the Cross" (the world's first multimedia presentation of silent movie clips, lantern slides and live music) in 1900. Entry was free. Ring or email to check opening hours, as the museum is open, but the front door may be closed due to Covid.
Written 1 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Itravel0ne
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia1,911 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
We were hunting for food around china town area and came across this older building at Bourke street that house the Salvation Army. It is a place for the homeless and you can also look for some second hand stuff. Your purchase is a way of supporting their work.
Written 31 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KeepSmilingSally
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates462 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
The last weekend of July each year, Melbourne “opens” up to locals who walk through the city day in/ day out, giving them the opportunity to see parts not noticed, and to visitors wanting to discover the past and present. At 69 Bourke Street, up on the 6th floor, the history of the Melbourne arm to the Salvation Army is on display and there are cabinets full of memorabilia dating back to the begin the Salvation Army’s founder William Booth and family. There were guides available to share stories of most items on display and was lucky to go into Melbourne’s first photo studio. This is the site of Australia’s first moving film pictures as produced by the Salvation Army’s Limelight Department. Unfortunately the first “film” Soldiers of the Cross is lost, but there is still a collection of coloured glass “plates” on display. It’s sort of interesting especially if you have a guide to share their knowledge.
Written 29 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jeffphilp2018
63 contributions
Jun 2019 • Solo
Excellent place to visit for single, family and groups, recently took a couple of mates who found it very fascinating, insightful and good learning place, about The Salvation Army's begin, First Moving picture of federation of Australia etc.
Well worth a visit...
Well worth a visit...
Written 7 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
C...
Victoria, Australia65,000 contributions
May 2018 • Business
Listed on the Victorian Heritage Register is this rather dilapidated but elegant building. Behind the doors the staff anticipate visitors that are eclectic with stories to tell...but sometimes the visitors don't want to tell their stories, they just want to be safe and secure... for others it's a journey of re-discovering themselves... for others yet... it's a place to simply pass through. Whatever brings the individual to the door, they are treated with empathy and respect by the staff.
The staff are inspiring...but so are their visitors-- they just have different stories to tell. Our group was fortunate enough to have a social worker explain about the building ( believe it or not... it was a swimming pool once?!?! ) ...but more importantly he shared with us his passion in helping others. The genuine warmth in his voice each time he passed one of their visitors was embracing.
While they don't open their doors to tourists or curious passerbys … they do have a story to tell and who knows--- 'There but for the grace of God, go I'
The staff are inspiring...but so are their visitors-- they just have different stories to tell. Our group was fortunate enough to have a social worker explain about the building ( believe it or not... it was a swimming pool once?!?! ) ...but more importantly he shared with us his passion in helping others. The genuine warmth in his voice each time he passed one of their visitors was embracing.
While they don't open their doors to tourists or curious passerbys … they do have a story to tell and who knows--- 'There but for the grace of God, go I'
Written 24 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Merilyn_S_12
London, UK1,004 contributions
Dec 2017
I came across this lovely architechtural building upon walking around the city. It's not really somewhere you'd go unless you were homeless. It's a nice building though from the outside.
Written 5 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richo1968
Melbourne, Australia88 contributions
Sept 2017 • Solo
This place is where the homeless people of Melbourne can go to get a free tea or coffee, a toasted ham, cheese and tomato sandwich and have a bit of nap overnight.
It's not for the feint hearted if you are confronted by homeless people but I highly recommend you drop in (pay for your coffee and toasted sandwich if you are not homeless!) and meet some great people.
The staff are largely volunteers and are great people, the customers have some great stories to tell and if you spend the time chatting to them, you will find that they are great people too.
It's not for the feint hearted if you are confronted by homeless people but I highly recommend you drop in (pay for your coffee and toasted sandwich if you are not homeless!) and meet some great people.
The staff are largely volunteers and are great people, the customers have some great stories to tell and if you spend the time chatting to them, you will find that they are great people too.
Written 6 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nocatnow
Melbourne, Australia841 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Salvation Army was active in making films, in the Limelight Studio on one of the higher floors of their premises in central Melbourne. Hundreds of films were made, including the mix of movie and magic lantern show, 'Soldiers of the Cross' that ran for 2.5 hours and shocked women with its graphic realism.
During the Open House Melbourne weekend, our first stop was the Salvation Army Heritage Centre and Limelight Studios. On the fourth floor, we looked at a display of the development of the Army in Melbourne and read about its origins in the UK. We were then shown into the tiny area that had been Limelight Studios.
Here a guide talked about the role of the Salvos in filming important events, such as the opening of parliament in Sydney. Unfortunately, before too long other companies started to compete for these kinds of commissions, and the Army found itself without sponsors for the films. Equipment was sold off and most of the film-stock destroyed. Such a shame that today only a few minutes of 'Soldiers of the Cross' remains, in the National Film Archives, Canberra.
We thank staff of the Army and other volunteers who gave their time to allow us to visit during Open House Melbourne.
During the Open House Melbourne weekend, our first stop was the Salvation Army Heritage Centre and Limelight Studios. On the fourth floor, we looked at a display of the development of the Army in Melbourne and read about its origins in the UK. We were then shown into the tiny area that had been Limelight Studios.
Here a guide talked about the role of the Salvos in filming important events, such as the opening of parliament in Sydney. Unfortunately, before too long other companies started to compete for these kinds of commissions, and the Army found itself without sponsors for the films. Equipment was sold off and most of the film-stock destroyed. Such a shame that today only a few minutes of 'Soldiers of the Cross' remains, in the National Film Archives, Canberra.
We thank staff of the Army and other volunteers who gave their time to allow us to visit during Open House Melbourne.
Written 1 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia14,153 contributions
May 2016
The Salvation Army is dedicated to serving the least fortunate in our community. This excellent Museum shows the history of the Salvation Army in Australia. In theology, the Salvation Army is closest to John Wesley's Methodism. One day we might need the Salvos, who knows? A donation from time to time assists the Salvation Army in its work.
Written 24 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia14,153 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
Many people have a soft spot for Salvos, even if they never need their services. The Salvation Army has been in Australia since 1880, when it was founded under a gum-tree in Adelaide, South Australia. For a while in the early 1900s, the Salvos were the world's largest producer of motion pictures. You can see where these movies were made. Other exhibits include Salvos who have given distinguished war time service. By the way, the museum welcomes visitors but the Heritage Centre shuts as 3:30pm
Written 25 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Salvation Army Heritage Centre
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