Historic Images of Sydney's Catholic Cathedrals : 12

 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 stages of the construction of the present Saint Mary's Cathedral :

1871              1882             1883             1886

1887              1890             1892             1895

1896               1901             1902

The image posted above was originally issued as a postcard around 1910.  

When the Cathedral was commenced 1867-68, a definite footprint of the building was laid-out, extending from Prince Albert Road southward to where the remnant of Old Saint Mary's remained.  Step by step, the cathedral was constructed until in 1900 it was raised to its completed state on the 1868 footprint.  

In the second half of the 1890s, work continued at the Crossing (that point where the nave, chancel and transepts intersect).  The transepts were raised to their full height, complete with their clerestories and massive buttressing and finally the construction of the Central tower over the crossing.  

The photograph shews the Cathedral looking across Hyde Park.  The remnant of the old Cathedral can be glimpsed behind the trees on the right side of the photograph.  In the foreground is the bronze statue of the Catholic statesman, William Bede Dalley (1831-1888) which was erected in 1898.  It is very fitting that such a statue stands adjacent to Saint Mary's, because of his lifelong support of the Church and his friendship and collaboration with the Archbishops of Sydney, J B Polding OSB, R B Vaughan OSB and P F Cardinal Moran.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

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 a private collection.  Please do not reproduce these unique images without permission.

Historic images of sydney's catholic cathedrals : 11

 

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 stages of the construction of the present Saint Mary's Cathedral :

1871              1882             1883             1886

1887              1890             1892             1895

1896               1901

The photograph posted above was taken after work was completed on the next phase of building the Cathedral in 1900.  This particular image was issued as a postcard.  

When the Cathedral was commenced 1867-68, a definite footprint of the building was laid-out, extending from Prince Albert Road southward to where the remnant of Old Saint Mary's remained.  Step by step, the cathedral was constructed until in 1900 it was raised to its completed state on the 1868 footprint.  

In the second half of the 1890s, work continued at the Crossing.  The transepts were raised to their full height, complete with their clerestories and massive buttressing.  Rising gloriously from the intersection of the transepts was the Central Tower which for a period of years was referred to as The Cardinal's Tower in honour of the Cardinal Moran, who gave the impetus for the construction of the stages of the Cathedral between 1884 and 1900.

The photograph shews the Northern facade of Saint Mary's Cathedral together with the sacristies, the newly-completed central tower.  Also depicted is the Frazer Memorial fountain, which was constructed at the corner of Saint Mary's Road and Prince Albert Road in 1884.

As the building of the new Cathedral progressed, professional photographers were regularly taking images of the stages of construction.  The number of photographs taken - often used for postcards - dramatically increased after the completion of the Central Tower.  No longer did the Cathedral look incomplete, but a finished and noble building.  

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

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 a private collection.  Please do not reproduce these unique images without permission.

Historic images of Sydney's Catholic Cathedrals : 10

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 stages of the construction of the present Saint Mary's Cathedral :

1871              1882             1883             1886

1887              1890             1892             1895

The photograph posted above was taken after work was completed on the next phase of building the Cathedral in 1900.  When the Cathedral was commenced 1867-68, a definite footprint of the building was laid-out, extending from Prince Albert Road southward to where the remnant of Old Saint Mary's remained.

Step by step, the cathedral was constructed until in 1900 it was raised to its completed state on the 1868 footprint.  In the second half of the 1890s, work continued at the Crossing.  The transepts were raised to their full height, complete with their clerestories and massive buttressing.  Rising gloriously from the intersection of the transepts was the Central Tower which for a period of years was referred to as The Cardinal's Tower in honour of the Cardinal Moran, who gave the impetus to the construction of the stages of the Cathedral between 1884 and 1900.

The photograph also shews the remnant of old Saint Mary's Cathedral signified by its squat tower surmounted by a pyramidal copper roof.  It was in this small tower that the Cathedral's peal of bells was housed, until it was relocated to the Central Tower of the new building after its completion in 1901.

As the building of the new Cathedral progressed, professional photographers were regularly taking images of the stages of construction.  The number of photographs taken - often used for postcards - dramatically increased after the completion of the Central Tower.  No longer did the Cathedral look incomplete, but a finished and noble building.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

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 by the State Archives of NSW.  Please do not reproduce these unique images without permission.

historic images of sydney's catholic cathedrals : 9

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 stages of the construction of the present Saint Mary's Cathedral :

1871              1882             1883             1886

1887              1890             1892             1895

The photograph posted above was taken after work was completed on the next phase of building the Cathedral, continuing from where construction was brought to a close in 1885.   Only two years elapsed before a further contract was entered into, which was carried out between 1887 and 1889 and consisted of constructing the upper sections of the side walls (known as the clerestory), the accompanying flying buttresses and finally by the construction of the roof of the sanctuary, from the Northern gable to the Crossing.  The new roof was finished in slate.

The photograph was taken within the Gates of the Domain, looking south-west.  The lofty stone wall of the Northern facade (completed in 1885) can be seen in all its richness, with the new clerestory walls, flying buttresses and slate roof structures beyond it (completed 1889).  The central tower and roof of the transepts are notably absent.  

As the building of the new Cathedral progressed, professional photographers were regularly taking images of the stages of construction.   One such was  Henry King (1855-1923), an English-born photographer, known for his studies of Australian Aborigines and his views of Sydney.  King was one of Australia's most significant late 19th century photographers.  The clarity of this image is due to the fact that the original large glass plate negative survived and was electronically scanned to give high resolution.  It is one of many negatives taken by Henry King preserved by the State Library of NSW.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

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 by the State Archives of NSW.  Please do not reproduce these unique images without permission.