Launceston Synagogue

Launceston Synagogue on St John Street The Launceston Synagogue is a heritage-listed building located in St.¹ In the 1840s the sizeable Launceston Hebrew Congregation borrowed £500 to purchase the land to build the Synagogue The Synagogue was designed by Richard Peter Lambeth and was built in 1844 by Tasmanian builders Barton and Bennell. The building is Australia's second-oldest synagogue, (after the Hobart Synagogue ), the oldest place of non- Christian worship in Launceston, and is a rare example of an Egyptian revival architecture in Australia. The building features a distinctly trapezoidal facade and main window bearing the Star of David with a single balcony on the inside accessed via the rear of the building. The synagogue closed as a house of worship in 1871 (re-opening again in the 1930s for a period) In 1913, Sim Crawcour and Harry Joseph were instrumental in its renovation. In 1989, the building became listed with National Trust of Australia who have been taking care of renovations and maintenance. In 1984, the community was rejuvenated with the appointment (by the Chabad movement) of Rabbi Yossi Gordon as travelling shliach to Tasmania. In 2011, Rabbi Yochanan and Rochel Gordon were invited to Tasmania as resident shluchim. Subsequently high holiday and bar and batmitzvah services have been held in the Synagogue. A news item in the Launceston Examiner stated that 2014 was the first year ALL the High Holiday Services were being held in the shule since 1989.²