In 1903, the Armadale Congregational Church was built on land donated by pioneer Thomas Saw. This was Armadale’s first church under the Congregational denomination, a Protestant tradition where each local congregation governs itself rather than being ruled by bishops or synods (formal meetings or councils of church leaders). They emphasised independence, the authority of each congregation and simple worship free from rigid liturgy (formal, structured order of worship used in a church).

 

A few years later in 1907, the congregation built a house for their minister right next to the church. It was called “The Manse”, the traditional name for a pastor’s residence. It was a Federation Queen Anne designed cottage built with red brick, corrugated iron roof and a wide bull-nose verandah.

 

For decades, it was the home to successive Congregational pastors who lived next door to the church community they served.

 

Dale Christian School

By the early 1980s, Armadale was growing so the church decided to launch a new project: Dale Christian School. The school opened its doors in July 1983, with two classes totalling 21 students. The classrooms were divided between the church hall and the Manse, making the house one of the school’s first teaching spaces.

 

The school was co-educational, so boys and girls were taught together right from the start. While the parish owned the property, the school was run under a board and principal. The age range of the students isn’t recorded and given the small size of pupils in the classrooms, it was almost certainly primary-aged children.

 

The school arrangement lasted for just over two years until in late 1985, the church purchased the site of the former Dale Drive-In cinema on Forrest Road to expand the school. (The drive-in had closed the previous year on 4 November 1984, after its final screening.) The move allowed the growing school to develop proper facilities.

 

Manse Restaurant

With the church buildings gone (the 1903 chapel itself was dismantled brick by brick and re-erected in Minnawarra Park in 1988), the Manse remained on its original block. Rather than being sold off as an ordinary house, it became repurposed.

 

In May 1988, local couple Alex and Kerry Koers went on to open The Manse Restaurant. Chef Gary Smith would later take over it, running it for nearly three decades.

 

The restaurant specialised in contemporary Australian fine dining and quickly earned a reputation as one of Armadale’s leading dining venues. Over time, it became a much-loved local favourite, known for its quality food, reliable service and cosy atmosphere. The Manse even picked up major industry awards, including a Gold Plate Award in 1997 (p.35) and recognition from the Restaurant & Catering Industry Association.

 

Closure During COVID

By the late 2010s, running a fine-dining restaurant in the suburbs had become increasingly difficult. Rising costs, changes in eating-out habits and small margins made it a constant challenge. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, it pushed the business over the edge.

 

Restrictions on dining and the financial strain made it impossible to keep going. In March 2020, Gary and Sue Smith announced the permanent closure of The Manse. Health concerns and the uncertainties of the hospitality industry sealed the decision. After 32 years, Armadale’s first fine-dining venue was gone.

 

Threat of Demolition

In August 2021, a development application proposing demolition (p.54) appeared on the City of Armadale’s website, sparking public outcry.

 

Heritage advocates pointed out that the Manse was one of the few remaining early 20th-century brick houses in the city centre, built in 1907 and was still recognisable from early photos. Heritage consultant Ian Boersma argued that it was also tied to Armadale’s early brickmaking industry and deserved protection.

 

Locals rallied, saying too many historic buildings in Armadale had already been lost. The Manse was listed on the City’s Local Heritage Survey (Category 2) (p.145), but this didn’t guarantee its safety. The future of the building became a matter of debate, balancing private ownership against community heritage.

 

 

The Minnawarra Historic Precinct

Meanwhile, the old Congregational church built next to The Manse House had been moved to the Minnawarra Historic Precinct in 1988. The precinct is a heritage park in central Armadale that brings together relocated historic buildings. There, the church became the Minnawarra Chapel, overlooking the lake in Minnawarra Park alongside the relocated 1899 schoolhouse and the History House Museum.