Great Synagogue, Sydney

The Great Synagogue on Elizabeth Street is one of Sydney’s most architecturally striking and historically significant places of worship. Completed in 1878, it was designed by Thomas Rowe in a blend of Byzantine and Gothic Revival styles, using local sandstone that matches the grand civic buildings surrounding Hyde Park. The façade is distinguished by twin towers, arched windows, and detailed stone carving, giving the building a monumental presence within the city’s 19th-century streetscape.

Inside, the synagogue features a richly decorated interior centred on a high Ark framed by marble columns and intricate woodwork. The vaulted ceiling, stained-glass windows, and hand-carved fittings create a space of light and reverence. A ladies’ gallery runs along the upper level, supported by cast-iron columns, while the main floor houses the bimah and seating arranged according to traditional synagogue design. The organ and choir loft, installed in the late 19th century, reflect the synagogue’s adaptation of European influences within an Australian context.

The Great Synagogue serves as the spiritual and cultural heart of Sydney’s Jewish community and is also an important heritage site open to visitors. Guided tours explore the building’s history, architecture, and role in Jewish life since colonial times, including its archives and small museum displaying ceremonial objects and historical documents.