Overview:

St. Mary's Cathedral is a church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, and the mother church of the archdiocese. The Cathedral is located on a 5,000 m2 block of land at the corner of College Street and Cathedral Street in the heart of Sydney. Construction began on the original Cathedral in 1821 and was completed in 1882. The Cathedral was extensively renovated and extended between 2000 and 2007 and was reopened in May 2007. The Cathedral is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Australia
Prominent Features:

1. Gothic Revival Architecture: The Cathedral is designed in neo-Gothic Revival architecture, which is defined by its pointed arches, spires, flying buttresses, large rose windows and intricate stone carvings. 2. History: St Mary's Cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Sydney and the seat of its Archbishop. Construction of the building began in 1821 and was completed in December 2000 and was dedicated as a place of worship and meditation by Pope John Paul II in 1995. 3. Location: Located in the heart of the city of Sydney, Australia, St Mary's is the largest church in the country and the seat of the Catholic church in Australia. 4. Bell Tower: St Mary's famous bell tower stands at 65 meters, and a chime of eight bells is added to the Cathedral each week. 5. stained glass windows: The interior of the church features many beautiful stained glass windows which were brought from France in 1935. Different scenes from the Bible are depicted in the glass. 6. Magnificent Organ: The Cathedral is also home to the magnificent 6,172 pipe Cathedral Organ, the biggest of its kind in Australia. 7. Statues: Another visually stunning feature of the Cathedral are the statues of saints placed around the perimeter. These statues were created around the same time as the Cathedral and are a beautiful addition to the architecture. 8. Crypt: Below the Cathedral lies the crypt where Archbishop Polding and other prominent figures in the history of the Catholic Church have been laid to rest. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Australia.

History:

St Mary’s Cathedral, located in Sydney Central Business District, is Australia’s oldest Roman Catholic cathedral and is the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney. The history of St Mary’s begins in 1810, when Governor Lachlan Macquarie laid the foundation stone for the church. The church was first known as the Church of Saint James and was initially just a simple church structure constructed from bricks. This basic structure was consecrated by Bishop Brady in December 1821. After extensive renovations made over the course of several decades, the church was larger and had earned the official title of St Mary’s Cathedral. Renowned architects Will Tarring and John Young were heavily involved in designing the current structure of the Cathedral and oversaw its completion in 1868. Since then, the Cathedral has remained largely untouched and is today considered one of Sydney’s most iconic landmarks. In 2000, Pope John Paul II visited St Mary’s Cathedral and was welcomed by the people of Sydney. In recent years, St Mary’s Cathedral has undergone a significant renovation project which involved restoring the original stained glass windows and adding a number of statues and other artistic features. The project was completed in 2014 and today, the Cathedral stands as a beautiful reminder of Sydney’s colonial history. Visit one of the famous monuments of Australia with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, New South Wales is the oldest Catholic cathedral in Australia. It was built in 1868 and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. 2. St. Mary's Cathedral is decorated inside with beautiful grand stained glass windows, that were all made in Germany before the First World War. 3.Next to the Cathedral is St. Mary's Crypt, which was built in 1822 and is the oldest part of the cathedral. 4. St. Mary's Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney, who is the elected leader of the Catholic Church in Australia 5. St. Mary's Cathedral is a popular venue for weddings and events, due to its stain glass windows, its grand architecture and its many historical significance. One of the historical monuments of Australia, it tells the story of a bygone era