Saint Mary's Cathedral
Saint Mary's Cathedral is a grand architectural achievement
Saint Mary's Cathedral has evolved into a grandiose Sydney landmark over a a period of over 130 years. Situated along the east side of Hyde Park in the Central Business District it is visible from many different vantage points. It is also Australia's largest church.
Featuring Gothic Revival architecture along the lines of the smaller and older St Andrew's Cathedral, the first stone for this beautiful Sydney landmark was laid back in 1868 after a succession of Catholic Churches, some of which were destroyed by fire. The Cathedral was finally dedicated in 1882, but it was only a portion of what it is today. The nave was not completed until 1928 followed by the crypt in 1961. And last, but not least the large spires on to of the two towers were not added until the year 2000 in order to improve the aesthetics of the previously square topped towers.
While the design of St. Mary's Cathedral is original it certainly inherits many features typical of far more medival churches from Europe. Due to the size of the project and the available location the Cathedral is oriented north-south breaking the tradition of east-west orientation.
Forty pictorial stained glass windows and striking mosaic floors along with a myriad of other fine details complete this elegant and grand Cathedral.
Nearby attractions: Hyde Park, Hyde Park Barracks Museum and the Australian Museum.
Facts For Your Visit
Official Website: Saint Mary's Cathedral
Fee: NoClosed Now
Regular Hours:
Hours may be subject to change. Please verify on the official website.
- Monday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:00 am - 8:00 am
- Tuesday: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:00 am - 8:00 am
- Wednesday: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Thursday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Friday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Saturday: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Sunday: 10:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Category: Churches
Address:
St Marys Rd
Sydney New South Wales 2000
Australia
Phone: +61 2 9220 0400
Reviews
Donna B. Jan-15-2023
Slipped into the cathedral a few days before Christmas. The air was filled with the scent of pine from the dozen lit Christmas trees flanking the... Read More
Slipped into the cathedral a few days before Christmas.
The air was filled with the scent of pine from the dozen lit Christmas trees flanking the...Kelly S. Mar-10-2022
Jen L. Apr-20-2018
Accommodations near Saint Mary's Cathedral :
Directions
| Train Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| T2, T3 or T8 | St. James Station | 1 minute |
How to get to Saint Mary's Cathedral by Train
By Train: St. James Station exits at Hyde Park just west of the Cathedral. Simply walk through the park to get to St. Mary's.
By Bus: Bus 333 runs up and down Elizabeth Street through the CBD. You can disembark at St. James Station and proceed as above.
Map & Instant Route Finder
Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.
Photo Gallery
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Interior of St. Mary's Cathedral cc licensed photo by Rob Young 
Photo Credit: Yelp 
Photo Credit: Yelp 
Photo Credit: Yelp -
Photo Credit: mikecogh - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Rmonty119 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Sidneiensis - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Sydney Heritage - cc license via Flickr
