Historic Images of Sydney's Catholic Cathedrals : 16

Image : State Library of NSW

We continue our series of historic photographs commemorating the bi-centenary of Saint Mary's Cathedral (1821-2021) with this wonderfully clear photograph, recently discovered in the collections of the State Library of NSW.

This is one of two photographs taken from Hyde Park in 1883 by a professional photographer.  It shews the completed first stage of the Cathedral, which was carried out between 1868 and 1882, being commenced by Archbishop Polding and completed by his successor, Archbishop Vaughan.

The photograph depicts the chancel of the new Cathedral, with its flanking aisles and the transept on the right.  The walls were built in this first stage no higher than the aisles. Peaking out above the aisles can be seen the nave, with a temporary roof of galvanised iron enclosing the building.  The timber structure resting on top of the nave and transept roofs is a builder's scaffold, which was put in place in order that further work on heightening the walls could be carried out when funds were available.  This took place after 1885.

The temporary galvanised iron roofing can also be seen over the Northern and Western masonry gables and over the aisle.

At the time this photograph was taken, only a few of the Cathedral magnificent English stained glass windows were in place, one being seen on the North end of the aisle (left of the structure).  This was the window dedicated to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, adjacent to the altar of Saint Joseph.  The remainder of the glazing was clear glass in diamond panes. 

In our previous articles, we posted photographs illustrating the stages of the construction of the present Saint Mary's Cathedral, to be found at the following links :

1871              1882             1883             1886

1887              1890             1892             1895

1896               1901             1902            1905

1907               1910            1914

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 Library of NSW.  Thanks are due to Special Collections of the State Library for undertaking a search to locate this and other rare images.  Please do not reproduce these unique images without permission.