St Mary Magdalene's Catholic Church
New South Head Road, Rose Bay

1938 E.F. Walcker & Cie., Ludwigsburg, Germany (opus 2637) 3m., 4 rks. ext., el.pn.

The Walcker organ is located in a west gallery with a split case. The console is located in the middle between the two cases with a large window behind. The console must be one of the few organs in Sydney to have a Rollswcheller (see picture below). According to Rushworth (p.333), three Walcker organs were ordered and constructed in 1938. Only one of these, the Rose Bay organ, remains (one order was cancelled and the other may have been for Darwin Roman Catholic Cathedral, now destroyed after Cyclone Tracey). The organ for Rose Bay consisted of four ranks from which 32 stops were derived. The console nameplate gives the Opus number 2637 and the year 1939. The organ is in unknown condition as it has not been played for some time and an electronic substitute down the front of the nave is used instead with external speakers placed up in the western gallery.

The stops are derived from four ranks (flute, principal, string and reed).

The specification is as follows (Rushworth p. 333):

Manual I Bourdon Open Diapason Bourdon Oktave Harmonic Flute Flautino Oboe Regal Manual II Gedeckt-Flöte Salizional Salicet Prinzipal Nazard Piccolo Dulzian Bassoon Manual III Grob-Gedeckt Viol di Gamba Prinzipal Flöte Fifteenth Weiden Pfeife Oboe Schalmei Pedal Bourdon Bass Flöte Salicet Bass Choral Bass Schweiz Pfeife Dulzian Hautbois Clarine

16 8 8 4 4 2 8 4 8 8 4 4 2-2/3 2 16 8 8 8 4 4 2 2 8 4 16 8 8 4 2 16 8 4

A B A B A A D D A C C B A B D D A C B A B A D D A A C B A D D D

A = Flute
B = Principal
C = String
D = Reed

Compass 61/30
Electro-pneumatic action
All pipes enclosed
Balanced Swell pedal
Rollschweller
No couplers
Tutti toe lever

Photos MQ 2006