St. Mary's Cathedral, Perth (must see)

Saint Mary’s Cathedral, officially the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is the principal Roman Catholic cathedral of Perth and the seat of the Archbishop of Perth. Its first stage was consecrated in 1865, replacing the earlier Saint John’s Church and establishing the cathedral as one of the prime religious sites.

The cathedral visitors see today was not built all at once, but in several major phases. The expansion, started in the 1920s, created the broad transepts and sanctuary at the eastern end of the church, but financial difficulties and the Great Depression left the cathedral partly unfinished for decades. In this older section, visitors can look for the sanctuary mosaics, especially in the sanctuary floor and side-chapel areas. The large stained-glass windows in the transepts and sanctuary were made by John Hardman & Co. of Birmingham, while the Stations of the Cross by sculptor Gerry Darwin are mounted along the nave walls on glass panels beneath the stained-glass windows.

A final major redevelopment took place between 2006 and 2009, adding a second spire, improved access, and an underground parish center. During this work, the remains of Perth’s early bishops were found beneath the floorboards in the old aisle area, marked only by a small cross cut into the boards. This discovery led to the creation of a permanent bishops’ crypt beneath the cathedral, directly below the main altar and sanctuary area. The remains of Perth’s first bishop, John Brady, were later brought from France and laid to rest there.

The cathedral is also known for its strong acoustics and organ music. The original Dodd organ and choir loft were moved back to the 1865 section of the cathedral, immediately above the main entrance, so visitors entering the building can look up toward the rear gallery to see it. A newer Hobday organ was installed in the adjacent Sacred Heart Chapel, one of the restored chapels beside the main cathedral space.