Sydney's Historical Churches (Self Guided), Sydney

Saint Mary’s Cathedral is one of Sydney’s most distinguished architectural and cultural landmarks, situated on College Street beside Hyde Park. It serves as the principal church of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and occupies the site of the first Catholic chapel established in the colony in 1821. The present cathedral was designed by English-born architect William Wardell, who began work on it in 1868.

Constructed from warm Pyrmont sandstone, the building is an outstanding example of the Gothic Revival style, drawing inspiration from the great cathedrals of Europe while adapting to the Australian climate and light. Its pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses give the structure both grace and strength, while the twin spires, completed in 2000, now stand as defining features of Sydney’s skyline.

The interior of Saint Mary’s is richly detailed, filled with colour and craftsmanship that reveal its long history. High stone columns rise toward a vaulted ceiling illuminated by shafts of filtered light from the stained-glass windows, many of which were created by renowned English and Australian artists.

The rose window above the western entrance casts intricate patterns across the nave, while the carved reredos, choir stalls, and marble altar demonstrate the precision and artistry of 19th-century ecclesiastical design. The cathedral’s proportions and acoustics give it an impressive sense of stillness, especially during organ recitals and choir performances that continue its long tradition of sacred music.

Below the main floor lies the crypt, a quiet chamber adorned with mosaic floors depicting Australian flora and fauna. It houses the tombs of Sydney’s early bishops and archbishops, including Cardinal Norman Gilroy, the first Australian-born cardinal.

The cathedral precinct extends into landscaped gardens and the open Cathedral Square, which connects the building visually to Hyde Park and provides a gathering space for services and civic events. Set beside open parkland and backed by the city’s towers, Saint Mary’s Cathedral remains a clear example of major 19th- and 20th-century church architecture and an important part of Sydney’s historical landscape.

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.

Saint Andrew’s Cathedral is the principal Anglican church of Sydney and one of the city’s finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture. Located beside Town Hall on George Street, the cathedral was designed by architect Edmund Blacket and consecrated in 1868, though construction had begun decades earlier. Built from local sandstone, its pointed arches, traceried windows, and carved details reflect the influence of English medieval cathedrals, adapted to Sydney’s colonial context. The twin towers and intricate stained glass give the exterior a sense of balance and grace amid the surrounding modern skyline.

Inside, the cathedral’s vaulted timber ceiling and stone columns create an atmosphere of intimacy and height. The richly coloured stained-glass windows depict biblical scenes and memorials to Sydney’s early clergy and citizens, while the marble floor and carved woodwork of the chancel and choir stalls showcase the craftsmanship of the 19th century. The pipe organ, built by William Hill & Son in London and installed in 1866, remains one of Australia’s most significant heritage instruments, regularly used for concerts and worship.

The cathedral serves as the spiritual centre of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, hosting daily services, choral performances, and civic ceremonies. It stands as a rare surviving link to the city’s early ecclesiastical history, contrasting its sandstone serenity with the bustle of central Sydney outside. Guided tours highlight both the architecture and the role of the cathedral in shaping the city’s religious and cultural life for more than 150 years.

Saint Philip’s Church stands on York Street near Wynyard Park, occupying one of the earliest ecclesiastical sites in Sydney. Established in 1793, it was the first parish church built in the colony, though the current sandstone building dates from 1856. Designed by architect Edmund Blacket in the Victorian Gothic Revival style, the church replaced two earlier structures and was constructed using locally quarried sandstone, with a tall square tower and spire rising above the city’s historic western ridge. Its name honours Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of New South Wales.

The church’s exterior features pointed arch windows, buttresses, and a clock tower that has long served as a familiar landmark in the city centre. Inside, the light-filled nave and timber roof create a warm and intimate atmosphere. The interior furnishings, including carved pews and a stone pulpit, reflect Blacket’s attention to proportion and craftsmanship. A fine pipe organ, built by Forster and Andrews of Hull in the 1860s, remains central to the church’s rich musical tradition, accompanying regular choral performances and services.

Saint Philip’s continues to function as an active Anglican parish, with services, community programs, and concerts held throughout the week. Its churchyard and surrounding precinct form part of the Millers Point and The Rocks heritage area, linking it to Sydney’s earliest settlement. The building’s position on Church Hill—shared with other historic places of worship—marks it as a key site in understanding the city’s spiritual and architectural beginnings.

Saint James’ Church is the oldest surviving church building in the city, standing prominently on King Street near Hyde Park. Designed by Francis Greenway, the colony’s first government architect, it was completed in 1824 under Governor Lachlan Macquarie as part of his vision for a planned and dignified city. Built from warm local sandstone in the Georgian style, the church’s restrained exterior features a tall spire, arched windows, and symmetrical proportions that reflect early 19th-century British classicism adapted to the Australian climate.

The interior is notable for its simplicity and craftsmanship, with cedar box pews, high ceilings, and finely detailed joinery. The chancel and sanctuary were later embellished with stained-glass windows, a carved reredos, and memorial plaques that record Sydney’s early colonial families and civic figures. The organ, dating from 1827 and later rebuilt, remains one of the oldest in continuous use in Australia, contributing to the church’s rich musical tradition.

Throughout its history, Saint James’ has played an important civic and spiritual role. It served convicts, settlers, and soldiers in the colony’s formative years and continues to host services, concerts, and public events that engage with Sydney’s cultural and religious life. Its location among other Macquarie-era landmarks—such as the Hyde Park Barracks and Supreme Court—anchors it within one of the city’s most historically significant precincts, where Greenway’s architecture endures as a symbol of Sydney’s early urban design and enduring Anglican heritage.