That year a group of German Lutheran and Presbyterian missionaries established Zion Hill (at present day Nundah), a mission for Christianising aborigines, on the outskirts of Moreton Bay Penal Colony.

It was inundated by flood waters several times so higher land was purchased in 1890 at the corner of George and Boundary Streets and the second timber St John's church was built here in 1892.

During this period the nation was in a sustained economic boom, was led by conservative governments, and was experiencing high population growth.

The congregations of major religions expanded and church attendance and religious society membership rose with accompanying financial improvement.

In the early to mid-1960s a number of Christian religions made alterations to the way they ministered to their congregation in order to re-establish themselves within the modern world.

This booklet explored issues related to house design and town planning in a sub-tropical climate and influenced many architects working in the post-WWII era.

[1] As an architect and town planner, Langer had a pronounced impact upon the built environment of Australia, especially in Queensland, from the 1940s until his death in 1969.

Important examples of his architectural work include the Langer residence at St Lucia (1950); Mackay Sugar Research Station (1953); Kingaroy Town Hall and Civic Square (1963); Assembly Hall at Ipswich Girls' Grammar School (1964); Main Roads Building, Spring Hill (1966); Lennon's Hotel, Broadbeach (1957) (demolished); and Lennon's Hotel, Toowoomba.

At St John's, Langer proposed a building with a simplified traditional form consisting of a box-like church with a very tall spire set back from the street by a plaza with reflecting pool, palms and colonnade.

[15] A large portion of the work was carried out by volunteer church members[16] including digging the foundations by hand, carting bricks, tiles, sand, and gravel, mixing and pouring concrete, and donating and milling timber.

A dedication service, led by the Queensland District President FH Schmidt, was witnessed by 1400 worshippers on 3 April 1960.

As a centenary project in 1977 it was decided to establish a Christian Day School on the site and the hall was extended to accommodate two more classrooms.

It is set back from George Street fronted a small, grassed forecourt with palms and shrubs.

Projecting bricks form large Christograms on the side walls of the tower - "ihs" on the east and "xp" on the west.

Beyond the southernmost bay the chancel is lit by fixed, steel framed glazing with deep reveals.

Above the portico the north elevation of the tower is treated to suggest an open bible with raised, white cement rendered letters two feet high on dark grey textured concrete pages reading:[1]GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.

Two sandstone plaques are fixed to the wall, which read:[1]IN MEMORY OF EMILIE LOVGREEN WHOSE GENEROUS GIFT MADE THIS TOWER POSSIBLE.

The office and the rest room contain built-in benches, cupboards, tables, chairs and fittings such as wall-hung speakers which are original elements.

The floor is plain concrete squares with a red and gold carpet running the length and width of the aisle.

The pews are silky oak, carved with a version of Durer's "Praying Hands" at the aisle end; some have memorial plaques, e.g.

The perimeter of the ceiling features a wide band of timber battens emphasising the length of the nave and drawing the eye to the sanctuary.

The nave is electrically lit by wall sconces with glass shades and by fluorescent lights recessed between the ceiling battens.

A cast plaster baptismal font (from the earlier church) with painted leaves and inscription stands to the west side of the sanctuary.

[1] The choir loft over the vestibule is supported by twin, canted, timber columns and is accessed via a small stair on the east side.

Timber battens line the rear wall which angles into the ceiling forming a shell-like space for the projection of sound into the nave.

[1] St John's Lutheran Church, Bundaberg was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 7 December 2012 having satisfied the following criteria.

Highly intact, the building is a simple arrangement of forms and spaces using a restrained palette of fine quality materials and finishes.

The church is notable for including a dominant bell tower, a large, well-lit nave focussed on an impressive sanctuary, a choir loft, a crying room, and a vestry.

[1] The place is a fine example of the work of architect, Dr Karl Langer, featuring characteristic simplified forms and spatial arrangements, incorporation of natural light and ventilation and employing a restrained use of good quality materials.

The sculptural qualities of the high volume, austere interior evoke feelings of awe and reverence affected through the use of white plaster finishes complementing fine timber screens and panels; long coloured glass windows flooding the nave with light; and finely crafted timber furniture, including sculptural elements like the praying hands carved to the end of each pew.