St Mary’s Cathedral

History of St Mary’s Cathedral

St Mary’s Cathedral has served the Tasmanian community for almost 140 years, and has touched the lives of thousands of people. Generations of Catholics have faithfully gathered in this sacred building to offer worship to God and pray for the needs of the world.

St Mary’s Cathedral was the vision of the first Bishop of Hobart Town, Robert William Willson, who chose the design and spent years raising the necessary funds to commence construction of the original cathedral building which was located near the site of a temporary wooden chapel which had been constructed by the first Catholic priest in Tasmania, Fr Philip Conolly.

Substantial foundations were laid in 1860, and the partially-completed original St Mary’s Cathedral was opened in 1866. Bishop Willson never saw his vision completed. In England when the first stage of construction was completed, he died the next day.

Bishop Robert William Willson courtesy Archives and Heritage Collection.

The plans for St Mary’s Cathedral had been drawn by gothic revival architect William Wardell, who also designed St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne and St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney. The famed gothic revival architect Augustus Welby Pugin – who had a great friendship with Bishop Willson – had been a friend and mentor of Wardell.

Structural problems due to faulty construction meant that the original cathedral building had to be largely dismantled and rebuilt to a modified design between 1876 and 1898.

The modified St Mary’s Cathedral was designed, based on William Wardell’s plans, by architect Henry Hunter, who was also responsible for the designs of the Church of the Apostles in Launceston, and St David’s Anglican Cathedral in Hobart.

The modified plans for St Mary’s Cathedral by Henry Hunter.

The present-day St Mary’s Cathedral was officially opened in 1881. The cathedral spire – part of Wardell’s original design – was never built; but the necessary supporting stonework remains in place. Within St Mary’s Cathedral, imposing pillars and stonework, exquisite stained glass windows, and the magnificent pipe organ (circa 1895) are works of leading international and Australian artisans.

The cathedral spire was part of William Wardell’s original design, but was never built.

St Mary’s Cathedral is the site of major liturgical events for the Archdiocese of Hobart, and all Tasmanians are welcome to visit and encounter the rich history and religious significance of the building.

S