St Mary's Cathedral, Hobart

The Cathedral’s origins can be traced back to 1822^[2] when the first permanent Tasmanian priest Reverend Philip Conolly (1786-1839) constructed a temporary wooden chapel near the present Cathedral site and dedicated to God, under the invocation of St. Virgilius, an "Irish Saint"

The current Cathedral foundation stone was laid in 1860 and was consecrated in 1866.^[3] St Mary’s Cathedral is located in Harrington Street, Hobart. The cathedral was built in the style of Gothic Revival.^[4]

Structural problems caused by faulty building resulted in the Cathedral being largely dismantled and re-constructed to a new design by Hobart architect Henry Hunter. He laid the new foundation stone in 1878.^{[5] [6]}

It is place of worship for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hobart.

St Mary's College is located next to the Cathedral. The College celebrates the Catholic liturgical year by attending Mass.

The Catholic Archbishop of Hobart, Tasmania, Julian Porteous resides at the Cathedral.

The organ at St Mary’s Cathedral, Hobart was built in 1893 by Fincham & Hobday.^[7]

Stained Glass Windows

Dominated by the exquisite Hardman Studio window in the style of a fourteenth century Gothic window; the five lancets depict pivotal scenes from the Gospel and the tracery at the top of the window details heavenly images, from 1869.

The Rose window in the West end of the Cathedral (1981), the Pentecost Window (1989), and the Heroic and Saintly Women (1995) are other windows specific to the cathedral.

References