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design
mag |
57
The construction of a cathedral is often a
long process.Work on Cologne Cathedral
began in 1248 and was only completed, with
interruptions, in 1880. Construction began on
Perth’s St Mary’s Cathedral (more correctly the
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of
the Blessed Virgin Mary) in 1865 and was not
completed, again because of interruptions
and the fluctuation of the economic cycle,
until December 2009.
The original, relatively modest cathedral was
designed in the Victorian Free Gothic style by
Brother Joseph Ascione and constructed by
Benedictine monks in locally-made red bricks
and roofed with shingles.
In the mid-1920s it was decided to greatly
extend the cathedral in an Academic Gothic
style designed by Michael Cavanagh.The
original building was largely retained as the
nave (congregation area) of the expanded
church.The link between the two very different
architectural styles, let alone their different
heights and proportions, was less than
successful. Before the work was completed the
Great Depression hit and completion of the
building languished for the next seven decades.
Fast forward to 1999 and a bequest of $2 million
kickstarted a program to not only complete the
cathedral but redevelop it into a facility more
suited to 21st century liturgical requirements.
Perth architect Peter Quinn, a solo practitioner
assisted only by a drafter,Trevor Osborne, won
an invited design competition and began the
defining project of his career.
“To have two church buildings not designed to
link together and then to cut a slice out of the
two and to join them, I don’t think you could
get anything harder,” he told Channel 10 News
before the opening.
Completing a project spread over
three centuries takes two careers
to their peak
Quick Facts
St Mary’s Cathedral
Location:
Victoria Square,
East Perth WA
Owner:
Catholic Diocese
of Perth
Architect:
Peter M Quinn
Architect
Structural engineer:
BG&E
Builder:
Emco
Roofing contractor:
Bristile Roofing
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