Excitement builds as Cathedral restoration nears completion

By Josh Low

After months of restoration work, Hobart’s St Mary’s Cathedral will be reopened next month on 8 December, coinciding with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Joining the Tasmanian community for the momentous occasion will be the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, His Excellency, Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo.

The Cathedral has been closed since early July to allow for much needed restoration work.

The relaying of the terrazzo flooring in the Cathedral is now almost complete, with the red linoleum flooring fully removed to reveal beautiful Tasmanian timber floors which will soon be given their final wax coating and polish.

A team of local stonemasons have been working tirelessly to restore and reinstate the Sacrament House holding the tabernacle on a new more dignified base in the chancel, as well as erect the Cathedral’s new smaller altar in the new receded sanctuary area.

Archdiocesan Master of Ceremonies and Restoration Project Manager, Michael McKenna, believes it is an exciting time of the restoration process.

“The restoration work at the Cathedral has been progressing very well,” he said.

“Those engaged are certainly very excited to see the works fully realised and are all looking forward to sharing it with the community when the building reopens on 8 December.”