St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne

St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne tickets: which one to buy

Saint Paul's Cathedral stands on the corner of Flinders Street and Swanston Street in the heart of Melbourne, opposite Federation Square and Flinders Street Station, and entry is free. It is the Anglican cathedral of Melbourne and one of the city's landmarks, standing where the first public Christian service in Melbourne was held in 1835. The cathedral welcomes visitors during the day, and volunteer guides are often available.

Walking tours of central Melbourne include the cathedral along with Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, the laneways of Degraves Street and Hosier Lane, and the Yarra River. The free tram zone covers the area. The cathedral holds choral evensong and organ recitals, and its choir is well regarded. It is an active church, and visiting pauses during services. Flinders Street Station is directly opposite, so the cathedral is easy to reach by train from anywhere in Melbourne.

Visiting St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne: what to see

The cathedral was designed by the English architect William Butterfield in a Gothic Revival style, and it was built between 1880 and 1891, although Butterfield resigned before completion and never visited Melbourne. The spires were added between 1926 and 1933 to a different design by John Barr of Sydney, and they rise about ninety-eight metres. The cathedral is built of sandstone in bands of different colours, with a striped effect inside and out, typical of Butterfield's polychrome style. Inside, the walls have patterned tiles and bands of coloured stone, and the floor is decorated with encaustic tiles. The cathedral has fine stained glass windows, a carved pulpit, a baptismal font and an organ built by T.

C. Lewis in 1891, one of the best examples of its kind in the world. A statue of Matthew Flinders stands outside. The mosaic floor in the sanctuary and the reredos behind the altar are richly decorated. The cathedral's bells, cast in England, hang in the central spire and are rung by a band of bell ringers. Memorial windows commemorate Australians who served in wars. The chapel of Saint John, beside the choir, is used for weekday services. The nave's banded stonework is best seen in afternoon light. The cathedral's shop sells books and gifts. Guided tours explain the story of Butterfield's design and the later spires. The organ is played at lunchtime recitals on some days.

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

The cathedral is open daily, with services and choral evensong on weekdays and Sundays. Melbourne's weather is famously changeable, with warm summers and cool winters; spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons. Federation Square across the road hosts events and festivals throughout the year, including the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and New Year's Eve celebrations. The Australian Open tennis in January brings crowds to the city. Allow about twenty minutes for the cathedral, and explore the nearby laneways and the Yarra riverside. The Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square displays Australian art, including Indigenous works, and is free to enter.