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St. Mary's Cathedral

St. Mary's Cathedral Review

The first St. Mary's was built here in 1821, but fire destroyed the chapel. Work on the present cathedral began in 1868. The spires weren't added until 2000, however. St. Mary's has some particularly fine stained-glass windows and a terrazzo floor in the crypt, where exhibitions are often held. The cathedral's large rose window was imported from England.

At the front of the cathedral stand statues of Cardinal Moran and Archbishop Kelly, two Irishmen who were prominent in Australia's Roman Catholic Church. Due to the high proportion of Irish men and women in the convict population, the Roman Catholic Church was often the voice of the oppressed in 19th-century Sydney, where anti-Catholic feeling ran high among the Protestant rulers.Call to check ahead for tours.

    Contact Information

  • Address: College and Cathedral Sts., Hyde Park, City Center, Sydney, NSW, 2000 | Map It
  • Phone: 02/9220--0400
  • Cost: Tour free
  • Hours: Weekdays 6:30 am-6:30 pm, Sat. 8-7:30, Sun. 6:30 am-7:30 pm; tour Sun. at noon
  • Location: Sydney City Center

Member Reviews

  • drkenrich, from Los Angeles, CA
    4/6/07

    This is right next to the Hyde Park Barracks and Hyde Park itself.
    I'm not into great cathedrals and have seen better but this was nice to explore for a little while what I was waiting for the Barracks to open.
    It's big and has some impressive stained glass windows. Other than that, you would have to wait for a later time tour of the catacombs under the floor of the cathedral where many of the priests and bishops have been buried.

    Ratings details: Experience: 3 | Ease: 5 | Value: 3 | Don't Miss: 2
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