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.