St Patrick’s Cathedral Melbourne

St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne tickets: which one to buy

Saint Patrick's Cathedral stands on Eastern Hill in the city of Melbourne, near the Parliament of Victoria and the Fitzroy Gardens, and entry is free. It is the Catholic cathedral of Melbourne and one of the largest and finest Gothic Revival churches in the world. Guided tours are offered on certain days, and the cathedral welcomes visitors outside services.

Walking tours of Melbourne's eastern district combine the cathedral with Parliament House, the Old Treasury Building, the Fitzroy Gardens and Captain Cook's Cottage, and the free City Circle tram passes nearby. The cathedral's precinct includes gardens with a pilgrim path and water features. The cathedral is an active church, and visiting pauses during masses. Photography is allowed without flash outside services. The free City Circle tram stops on Spring Street, a short walk from the cathedral.

Visiting St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne: what to see

The cathedral was designed by William Wardell, an English architect who had worked with Augustus Pugin, and it was built between 1858 and 1939, with the spires completed last. It is built of bluestone, a dark volcanic stone typical of Melbourne, with lighter sandstone for details. The central spire rises 105 metres. Inside, the cathedral is long and lofty, with a nave, transepts and a chevet of chapels around the sanctuary, inspired by English and French Gothic cathedrals. It has more than a hundred stained glass windows, many made in Birmingham by John Hardman and Company, and a large organ. The Irish community, who largely funded the cathedral, is commemorated in the decoration, including Celtic motifs and a statue of Saint Patrick.

In front of the cathedral, a statue of Daniel O'Mannix, the long-serving archbishop, stands in the grounds. Pope John Paul II visited in 1986. The sanctuary holds an altar of marble and a set of bronze doors. The side chapels are dedicated to saints, including the Chapel of Saint Joseph. The cathedral's bells, cast in England, ring for services and are among the largest sets in Australia. The windows of the chevet show saints and the life of the Virgin. The cathedral grounds include a rose garden and statues of Irish saints. The organ, built in the nineteenth century, has been restored. A mosaic floor in the sanctuary includes Celtic designs. The spires can be seen from across the city.

St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open daily, with visits limited during masses. Melbourne's weather is changeable, with warm summers from December to February and cool winters; spring and autumn are pleasant. The Fitzroy Gardens are beautiful in autumn, when the trees change colour. Saint Patrick's Day in March brings celebrations, and Christmas brings large congregations. The Australian Open tennis in January and the Melbourne Cup in November bring visitors to the city. Allow about half an hour for the cathedral, and walk through the Fitzroy Gardens afterwards. The Fitzroy Gardens, next to the cathedral, hold Captain Cook's Cottage, which was brought from England in 1934.