Athena Rockwell_St Marys Cathedral_Attractions

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- St Mary's Cathedral

· Located opposite Hyde Park, this is the seat of Sydney's Archbishop and is known as the Mother Church of Australian Catholicism.
· Built from local sandstone, the cathedral features Gothic architecture with pointed arches, reminiscent of medieval European cathedrals.
· The famous Moroccan priest's floor pattern in the underground crypt features intricate Genesis-themed mosaics made from colored stone fragments, renowned worldwide for its craftsmanship.
· St Mary's Cathedral is famous for its high-standard music and choir, internationally recognized as one of the world's finest, regularly performing on tour.
· Visitor guidelines: No mobile phones, no hats, photography allowed but without flash.

Transportation
Take bus 480 or 483 to St Marys Rd Near Cathedral St stop

Admission
Free

Tips:
Free guided tours are available after 10:30 AM every Sunday.

Opening Hours
06:30-18:30 (January 1 - December 31, Monday-Friday)
06:30-19:00 (January 1 - December 31, Saturday-Sunday)

Athena Rockwell Mar 21,2025

St Mary's Cathedral is the spiritual home of Sydney's Catholic community. As the seat of Sydney's Archbishop, it stands on the site of Sydney's first Catholic church. It is Australia's largest and oldest religious building, located at the intersection of College Street and Prince Albert Road, opposite Hyde Park.

Built from local sandstone, the cathedral exhibits Gothic architectural style, reflecting the medieval European cathedral tradition. Construction began in 1821, just a year after Catholic priests officially arrived in Australia, earning it the title "Mother Church of Australian Catholicism." In 1865, the partially built cathedral was destroyed by fire. Reconstruction began the same year and took over 60 years, finally completing in 1928. The spires were added between 1998 and 2000.

The cathedral's dimensions are impressive: 107 meters long, with a 24.3-meter-wide nave and 22.5-meter-high ceiling. The central tower reaches 46.3 meters, while the front towers and spires extend to 74.6 meters.

The cathedral is magnificent in scale and solemn in its interior. In the crypt, the Moroccan priest's floor design, themed on Genesis and crafted from colorful stone mosaics, is world-renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship.

St Mary's Cathedral stands not only as a precious heritage from the past but also as a vital component of the city's and nation's spiritual and cultural life today.