St Michael's Cathedral, Wollongong facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael's Cathedral |
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| Cathedral Church of Saint Michael the Archangel | |
St Michael's Cathedral, pictured in 2009
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| 34°25′25″S 150°53′42″E / 34.4236536676°S 150.8951223600°E | |
| Location | 74 Church Street, Wollongong, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Anglican Church of Australia |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Michael's Church |
| Status | |
| Founded | 1858 |
| Dedication | Saint Michael the Archangel |
| Dedicated | 1847 (in Corrimal Street) |
| Consecrated |
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| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Edmund Blacket |
| Style | Victorian Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1858–1859 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone; timber |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Sydney |
St Michael's Cathedral is a historic Anglican church located in Wollongong, Australia. It is the main Anglican church in the city. It also serves as the "mother-church" for the Bishop of Wollongong.
The famous architect Edmund Blacket designed the church. It was built between 1858 and 1859. The Anglican Church Property Trust owns the building. St Michael's Cathedral was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, which means it's a very important historical site.
Contents
History of the Area
Early European Settlement
Aboriginal people lived in the Wollongong area for a long time. Europeans first arrived in 1796. In the early 1800s, people started cutting cedar trees in the Illawarra escarpment rainforests. This was the first European industry there.
In 1815, Dr Charles Throsby used the Illawarra grasslands for his cattle. This opened the area for more European settlers. He built a hut and cattle yards near what is now Harbour and Smith Streets.
The first European settlement in Wollongong was by Charles Throsby Smith. He received land in 1822 and was the first to settle on his 300 acres. His barn became the first school in 1826 and then a church in 1828.
Wollongong Town Planning
In 1834, Smith's land was chosen as the site for the new town of Wollongong. Surveyor General Major Thomas Mitchell planned the town. He made sure a central piece of land was set aside for the Church of England. This land became the site of St Michael's.
St Michael's Church
Building the First Church
St Michael's Church was built in 1859. It was designed by Edmund Blacket. Even though the church community was small, they hoped for a lot of growth. St Michael's has served Wollongong through many important changes as the region grew. It has always been a key part of the community.
In the 1880s, Wollongong grew bigger. The railway, which connected the area to Sydney in 1888, changed the town. People started moving away from Mitchell's original town plan. The railway helped Wollongong ship milk, coal, and coke to Sydney, which helped the city grow a lot.
Growth and Changes
In 1893–1894, a rectory (a house for the church's leader) was built next to the church. This happened even though times were tough due to a depression in Australia.
Around 1900, the town's population grew a lot. More industries, like smelting works, opened. In 1902, a terrible mining accident happened at Mount Kembla mine. Many men and boys died. St Michael's held a special funeral for a major who died trying to rescue miners.
In 1908, a Church Hall was built on the corner of the site. This hall is well-built and fits well with the church. It has an interesting ceiling with fancy wooden beams. The rectory also got new technology like a telephone in 1907 and town water in 1909.
In 1909, the church sold some land. They used the money to make big changes inside St Michael's. They raised the east end of the church and added new furniture.
Between 1900 and 1920, the Illawarra region grew a lot. Wollongong's population increased steadily during this time.
Post-War Development
In the 1940s, sandstone fences and walls were built around the church as a memorial. There are also portable sandstone benches in the garden that are memorials.
In 1958, the church celebrated 100 years since its foundation stone was laid. They made improvements to the church and built a curate's cottage.
Wollongong grew incredibly fast after World War II. The city's population jumped from about 63,000 in 1947 to over 130,000 by 1961. By this time, Wollongong was one of Australia's largest cities.
In 1963, some of the church's land was divided and leased for a service station. This changed the look of the historic part of Wollongong. In 1967, more work was done on the church buildings. A kindergarten extension was added to the 1925 hall.
St Michael's Pro-Cathedral
Becoming a Pro-Cathedral
In 1970, St Michael's became a "pro-cathedral." This means it was a church that served as a cathedral, even if it wasn't officially called a cathedral yet.
In the 1980s, the church faced security issues. The church leaders had to move away from the site. The church also leased out the curate's cottage.
The church considered building a new, modern cathedral. They wanted a building that could hold very large services and felt more like a cathedral. They also thought about selling part of the land for commercial buildings.
Protecting the Heritage
In 1987, the old 1859 floor of the church was replaced. You can still see parts of the old, rotted floor in the south porch. In the 1980s, camellia plants were added around the cathedral walls to remember past church members.
Because of its important history, St Michael's Cathedral was given a special protection order in 1988. This order helps make sure the building is preserved. The church building is still largely the same as when it was built. It continues to play a big role in the community.
Description
The Church Site
The church site is part of the important Market Street heritage area. It includes the modern UOW Marketview Student Residence, two halls (one from 1925 and one from 1908, now church offices), the cathedral itself, and a garden area. There is also the 1892 Rectory.
The cathedral is built on top of a hill. You can see it from far away along Market Street. The original town plan made the St Michael's site a central point with long views.
The Church Building
St Michael's Cathedral was built in 1859 as a church. It is a beautiful stone Gothic building designed by Edmund Blacket. It sits on a high point in Wollongong. The building has a Victorian Gothic Revival style. It has some special features, like a bell tower, that were not common for churches designed by Blacket at that time.
The church is very symmetrical. It has balanced porches and transepts (parts of the church that stick out like arms). The building is more grand than typical country churches. Its octagonal (eight-sided) bell tower makes it stand out.
The outside sandstone is in very good condition. Inside, the floors are made of wood. The walls are mostly rough stone, which means they were not meant to be covered. The roof has large wooden beams. The windows in the main part of the church have Gothic arches and stained glass. The doors are made of wood and fit the Gothic style. The roof is made of slate.
Other Buildings on Site
Other buildings on the site include the rectory (1892), the 1908 hall, the 1925 hall, the curate's residence (1958), and the kindergarten (1967). The Ibis Hotel now stands where a service station used to be. The halls, especially, have a strong connection with the cathedral. They create an important historical setting together.
Condition and Changes
The church building is in good condition and is mostly unchanged from when it was built.
Over the years, the landscape around the church has changed. Buildings were added to support the growing church community. In the 1940s, roads were paved, and sandstone fences and walls were built around the site. This meant some old trees had to be removed.
The open space between the halls and the rectory has also changed a lot. For example, fences were added and removed, large trees were taken out, and the ground was changed for construction of the nearby hotel.
Heritage Listing
St Michael's is located in a very important spot. This shows how important the Church of England was in shaping the Wollongong community. The church building and its development show the long-lasting impact of the church on its community. As the main church for the Bishop of Wollongong, it shows how important the region is to the state.
The leaders and members of St Michael's have always been closely connected to the leaders of the Wollongong community. Many rectors of St Michael's have also been in charge of church activities for the whole Illawarra region.
St Michael's has also had strong ties to the national leaders of the Church of England. Many important bishops and archbishops have shown special interest in St Michael's. This has made the church a strong center for a certain tradition within the Anglican Church.
Edmund Blacket's design for St Michael's has some unique features. It is one of his earliest works where he started to show his own architectural style. The church building is still mostly as it was built, and much of the inside looks as Blacket planned it. It is a high-quality and rare example of a Gothic church with a very symmetrical and planned layout. Its quality shows the hopeful spirit of the local community in 1858. The church is part of a group of important buildings in Wollongong.
St Michael's Cathedral, Wollongong, was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it is protected and recognized as a very important historical site.
See also
- List of Anglican cathedrals in Australia
- List of Edmund Blacket buildings
