Religious site
St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
File:St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney HDR.jpg: Adam.J.W.C.
derivative work: Georgfotoart · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.5Some booking links are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We never let this influence which places we recommend.
St Mary's Cathedral is a Catholic basilica and the seat of the Archdiocese of Sydney, located on College Street near the eastern border of the Sydney central business district. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title 'Our Lady, Help of Christians' and Patroness of Australia. The cathedral was designed by William Wardell and built from 1866 to 1928. Its architecture is Gothic Revival, inspired by 13th-century English cathedrals like Lincoln, with a French-style entrance façade based on Notre Dame de Paris. The cathedral is oriented north–south due to its size and the city layout, and its twin spires were added in 2000.
Don't miss
- The twin spires on the main front, added in 2000, which enhance the view along College Street.
- The central crossing tower with crocketted pinnacles reaching 46 metres above the floor.
- The French-style west front with three huge portals and a central rose window, loosely based on Notre Dame de Paris.
- The large chancel window with tracery almost a replica of Lincoln Cathedral's.
- The transept doors facing Hyde Park, carved with Australian native plants like the waratah.
- The richly decorated crypt, completed in 1961, which holds the remains of many early priests and bishops.
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
You can visit St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney on your own. A guide is worth it for the history and detail that is easy to walk past, and a tour can combine it with nearby sights.
Cheapest way inSydney Harbour Sightseeing Highlights Cruise4.4★ · 177 travelers~1 hourFree cancellationFrom$26 per personSee dates →
Most bookedSydney Opera House Official Guided Walking Tour4.7★ · 4,135 travelers~1 hourFree cancellationFrom$36 per personSee dates →
Private & flexibleSydney City Highlights & Hidden Gems: Private or Small Group Tour5★ · 440 travelers~6 hoursFree cancellationFrom$177 per personSee dates →Know before you go
- The cathedral is generally approached on foot from the city through Hyde Park, where the transept front and central tower rise behind the Archibald Fountain.
- On sunny days, a long-sleeved shirt, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat are advisable when walking around Sydney.
A bit of history
The first St Mary's was a simple cruciform stone church, with its foundation stone laid in 1821 by Governor Macquarie. That church was destroyed by fire in 1865. A temporary wooden church was built but also burned down in 1869. The present cathedral's foundation stone was laid in 1868 by Archbishop Polding, who died in 1877 before it was in use. The cathedral was dedicated in 1882, but construction continued for decades. The nave was dedicated in 1928. The crypt was completed in 1961. The spires were finally built in 2000 with a government grant for the new millennium.
Common questions
Why is the cathedral oriented north–south instead of east–west?
Because of its size, the city plan around it, and the fall of the land, St Mary's Cathedral is oriented north–south. The liturgical east end is at the north, and the west front is to the south.
When were the spires added?
The spires were built in 2000, with a grant from the Government to mark the new millennium. They were part of William Wardell's original design but were not put in place until 132 years after construction began.
What style of architecture is the cathedral?
The style is Geometric Decorated Gothic, based on late 13th-century English ecclesiastical architecture, particularly Lincoln Cathedral. The entrance façade is French, loosely based on Notre Dame de Paris.
More attractions in Sydney
