Historic Images of Sydney's Catholic Cathedrals : 4

We continue our series of historic photographs commemorating the bi-centenary of Saint Mary's Cathedral (1821-2021).

In our previous articles, we posted photographs illustrating the earliest stages of the construction of the present Saint Mary's Cathedral :

1871 

1882

1883

The above photograph was taken after work was completed on the next phase of work, continuing from where construction was brought to a close in 1882.  In the meantime, the Archbishop of Sydney, +Roger Bede Vaughan OSB had died, and a new Archbishop had been appointed +Patrick Francis Moran.  Within months of his arrival from Ireland in 1884, Archbishop Moran, collaborating with Sydney's Catholic leaders, had initiated a further phase of construction, namely the completion of the Northern facade of the Cathedral, in accordance with the design of the architect, William Wardell.  This work was carried out in 1885 and included the installation of the magnificent window behind the High altar, manufactured in the United Kingdom.  

The photograph was taken looking through the gates of the Domain towards the completed Northern facade.  At this point, there was a but a temporary roof over the sanctuary and exposed timber beams can be seen between the trees and the stonework.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Digital art by the Saint Bede Studio.

AMDG

NOTES

The photographs in this series are taken from a variety of sources, some in online Archival collections, some from books, some original images in the editor's collection.  They are presented here in a "modernised" digital form, and with as much detail of the structure of the Cathedrals enhanced in order to make them more accessible to a new generation of Australian Catholics.  The original image on which this digital rendering is based is held in the Special Collections of the State Library of NSW.  Please do not reproduce these unique images without permission.