The first service appears to have been conducted in a Schoolroom in Hobson's Place between Sturt and Wright Street. In December, 1853, Mr. Justice Cooper presided at a meeting in the Holy Trinity Schoolroom at which it was reported that a sum of 120 pounds had been subscribed to erect a Church in the south-west portion of the City. The meeting carried the following resolutions:
1. That a Church was required to hold 450 people, at least.
2. That Whitmore Square be the site selected.
3. That it was desirable to send to England for an iron Church
This iron Church, on arrival, was condemned by Lloyd's Agent, as the Church had not been properly insured, leaving monies raised for the project as a complete waste. However, the structure went ahead, more donations came in and part of the iron Church was used in the building.

The Services were still being held in Hobson's Place, but soon became too small for the increasing congregation. A Mr. Paxon kindly offered his new grain store in Wright Street to the Rector as a place of worship until erection of the new Church was completed. Eventually, the Whitmore Square site was decided, the land being given for the Propagation of the Gospel. On September 11th, 1855, during a heavy storm, the foundation stone of the Church was laid with full Masonic honors by the Governor. Amongst those present was the Bishop, Rev. J. Pollitt (Rector) together with about 2,000 people. St. Luke’s was the fourth Church in the city and the twenty-sixth in the Diocese.

Unfortunately the original Church was burnt down on Easter Wednesday in 1992, and many early features were lost. A full history is given in:

http://www.stlukessa.com.au/history.htm