St Mary's Cathedral
St Mary's Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Perth and the seat of its archbishop, standing on Victoria Square in the heart of the city. Built in the Gothic Revival tradition, it is notable for having been constructed across three distinct stages spanning nearly 150 years, producing a building that visibly layers different eras and styles. It is listed on the Western Australian heritage register.
The first stage, in a Victorian Gothic style, was built in 1863-1865 and blessed on 29 January 1865, serving the colony's growing Catholic population. The second stage, a major Academic Gothic expansion designed by architect Michael Cavanagh, began in 1926 and opened on 4 May 1930, greatly enlarging the church. The third and final stage, designed by Peter M. Quinn and carried out from 2006, completed the long-unfinished structure and reopened in December 2009, adding a second spire, an underground parish centre, and expanded seating for around 1,600 people.
The cathedral blends old and new throughout, with surviving 19th-century stonework and traditional Gothic elements sitting alongside contemporary architecture and glasswork from the 2009 completion. Notable features include a marble altar brought from the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, stained glass by John Hardman of Birmingham, and sanctuary mosaics inspired by the illuminated Book of Kells. The result is a working cathedral that unites Victorian, interwar and 21st-century design into a single coherent place of worship and a prominent Perth landmark, hosting daily Masses and major archdiocesan liturgies.
- Location
- -31.9556, 115.8664
- Local time
- 06:35 (Australia/Perth)
🕘 Visiting hours
| Mon–Fri | 06:30–18:30 |
| Sat–Sun | 06:30–19:00 |
Hours may vary around Mass times; free guided tours every Sunday at 2pm. No photography during services; modest dress requested.
✨ Saints & blessed venerated here
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Blessed Virgin Mary Blessed
Patroness of the cathedral, dedicated under her title of the Immaculate Conception.
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St Joseph Saint
Husband of Mary, traditionally honoured alongside the Marian dedication.
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St Paul the Apostle Saint
The cathedral's marble high altar came from the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome.
Care & donations
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Perth
Free entry; donations toward upkeep welcomed, including via QR-code electronic giving.
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