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One of Melbourne’s oldest places of worship is getting a glow-up. On St Patrick’s Day (Tuesday, March 18), the Archbishop of Melbourne Peter A Comensoli unveiled Light into the City: a sweeping, once-in-a-generation vision to restore St Patrick’s Cathedral and transform its surrounding precinct into a more open, accessible and culturally vibrant space.
If you’ve ever wandered past the Gothic Revival masterpiece on the edge of the CBD, you’ll know it’s already an eye-catching beauty, but this ambitious five-to-ten-year plan is about more than preservation. It’s about reimagining the cathedral as a living, breathing part of the city – not just a place of worship, but a hub for culture and community.
“Light into the City is about caring for what we have inherited,” Archbishop Comensoli said at the launch. “While ensuring that this cathedral and its precinct can continue to serve the people of Melbourne… for generations to come.”
According to the board, the project will roll out in stages, starting later this year with a major restoration of the cathedral itself – widely considered one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Australia. Alongside that, a new assembly building will be built next door, complete with flexible event spaces and improved facilities for visitors. According to the plans, we can expect upgraded landscaping, too – designed to make the precinct feel less like a pass-through and more like a place to while away an hour in the sunshine.
Stage two will turn its attention to the heritage-listed Presbytery and Cardinal Knox Centre, with future plans hinting at spaces for arts, culture and social outreach initiatives. There’s even a third, still-conceptual stage on the horizon, aimed at expanding facilities for mission-based work.
All up, the project carries a hefty $190 million price tag – with $130 million earmarked for the first stage alone. So far, $90 million has already been secured, including a significant $60 million commitment from the Australian Government.
With nearly a million visitors passing through the cathedral each year, it makes sense that this holy corner of the city is getting some love. The end goal? A precinct that feels as welcoming to tourists and CBD office-dwellers as it does to worshippers and pilgrims.
You’ll find more about the project over here.
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