In our previous articles, we posted photographs illustrating the stages of the construction of the present Saint Mary's Cathedral :
The image posted above was originally issued as a postcard around 1907.
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 from Prince Albert Road towards 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 H.R.H. Prince Albert, Consort of Queen Victoria, which was erected by public subscription in 1866 following his untimely death. The statue and its based were re-sited in 1922 and again in 1987 to its present position.
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.
