St Monica's Old Cathedral, Cairns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Monica's Old Cathedral |
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St Monica's Old Cathedral, 1996
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| Location | Minnie Street, Cairns City, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Lawrence and Lordan |
| Architectural style(s) | Spanish Mission |
| Official name: St Monica's Old Cathedral, St Monica's Cathedral, St Monica's Church and School | |
| Type | State heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 1 July 1997 |
| Reference no. | 601750 |
| Significant period | 1920s–1968 (historical) ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | Cathedral, gymnasium, views to, gate – entrance, school/school room |
| Builders | Michael Garvey |
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St Monica's Old Cathedral is a special building in Cairns, Australia. It used to be a Roman Catholic cathedral, which is a very important church. It was designed by Lawrence and Lordan and built in 1927.
This building is also known as St Monica's Church and School. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1997 because of its history. After a newer St Monica's Cathedral was built, this old building stopped being a church. Now, it is used as offices for the local church area.
Contents
The Story of St Monica's Old Cathedral
St Monica's Old Cathedral was built in 1927. It first served as both a church and a school. It replaced an earlier church and school that were destroyed by a big storm (cyclone) in February 1927.
Early Days of Cairns and the Church
Cairns started in 1876 as a port for gold miners. Around the same time, the Catholic Church began to grow in North Queensland. In 1884, some Irish Augustinian priests came to lead the church in this area.
In 1885, they started the St Monica's church in Cairns. The first St Monica's Church was a wooden building. It opened in 1886. A school also opened nearby in 1890. At first, regular teachers taught there. Later, Sisters of Mercy from Cooktown came to teach.
From Church to Pro-Cathedral
By 1906, Cairns had become the main port in North Queensland. Because of this, St Monica's Church became a "pro-cathedral." This means it was a church that was preparing to become a full cathedral.
Rebuilding After the Cyclone
On February 9, 1927, a powerful storm called Cyclone Willis hit Cairns. It destroyed the first St Monica's church and school. People had to put off plans for a new cathedral. Instead, they raised money to rebuild.
Lawrence and Lordan, architects from Cairns, designed a new building. This building would work as both a church and a school. While it was being built, church services were held in a movie theater. The school classes took place in a local hall.
A New Building for Church and School
Construction for the new church-school began in March 1927. A builder named Michael Garvey finished the large, strong concrete building in about seven months. It officially opened on October 16, 1927.
The ground floor of the building was the school. It was a large space that could be divided by folding doors. The upper floor was the church. It even had the altar from the first St Monica's Church.
The building was designed with Gothic style details. It had wide verandahs around it, which helped keep it cool. It could seat 900 people and cost a lot of money to build. People in Cairns worked hard to raise money for it. Many people helped clear the storm damage for free. This showed how dedicated the Catholic community was.
Becoming a Cathedral
On July 8, 1941, the church area in Cairns became the Diocese of Cairns. This meant St Monica's Church officially became St Monica's Cathedral. Around 1948, grand front stairs were added to the building. Before this, people entered from stairs on the side.
In July 1968, a new and bigger St Monica's War Memorial Cathedral opened. After this, the old St Monica's Cathedral stopped being a church. The altar and Bishop's Chair were moved to the new cathedral. The main church area became a gymnasium for St Monica's School. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, St Monica's School became a high school just for girls. The lower floor of the Old Cathedral was updated to be offices for the church.
What St Monica's Old Cathedral Looks Like
St Monica's Old Cathedral is a two-story building made of strong concrete. It has a gabled roof, which means it has a triangular shape at the ends. The building is located at the corner of Lake and Minnie Streets.
Outside the Building
On Minnie Street, there are two concrete arched gates with Celtic crosses. These gates lead to a wide staircase that goes up to the main entrance on the first floor. This staircase was added around 1948. At the top of the stairs, there are double entrance doors. These doors have a special design with a stepped shape and a Celtic cross.
The building has large square windows on the upper floor. These windows have louvres, which are slanted slats that let air in. The lower floor used to have open arches, but these have been filled in with windows.
Inside the Building
The ground floor was originally divided into classrooms. Some of the original walls are still there, but the spaces have been changed for new uses. The ceilings have wooden panels and deep wooden beams.
The first floor used to be the main church area. It has wooden columns with arched openings between them. These columns divide the main space from the side aisles. At the western end of each aisle, there are double entrance doors that open to the outside porches.
Above the main entrance, there is a raised wooden gallery. This is like a balcony. The ceilings in the aisles are made of narrow wooden boards. The ceiling over the main church area is divided into large panels. There is a stage at one end of the former church space, which is now used as a gymnasium.
Why St Monica's Old Cathedral is Important
St Monica's Old Cathedral is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it is very important to Queensland's history and culture.
Showing History and Design
This building was the first Catholic cathedral in Cairns, from 1948 to 1968. It shows how Catholic worship and education grew in Cairns since 1927. It also shows how Cairns was rebuilt in the 1920s and 1930s. During this time, Cairns became the main port in Far North Queensland. The building is also a good example of using strong concrete, which was popular in Cairns because of cyclones.
A Special Type of Building
Even with some changes, St Monica's Old Cathedral is still mostly the same as when it was built. It is a good example of a building that was designed to be both a church and a school. This type of design was common for the Catholic Church between the two World Wars. Its concrete structure was thought to be safer from cyclones than brick buildings. It also has features that help it stay cool in a tropical climate.
Beautiful and Important to Cairns
St Monica's Old Cathedral is part of a group of important old buildings in Cairns. These include the nearby Bishop's House, St Joseph's Convent, and St Monica's High School Administration Building. Together, these buildings make Cairns look special and help tell its history. They show how the Catholic Church and Catholic education grew in the area.
Important to the Community
This building is very important to the people who live in Cairns and to visitors. It reminds them of Cairns' early development. It is especially important to the Catholic community of St Monica's parish. It shows how their parish grew and how Cairns became a cathedral city in 1941.
Connected to Important People
The building is linked to the work of Cairns architects Lawrence and Lordan. It is also connected to the Augustinian priests, especially Bishop Heavey and Father Phelan. And it shows the work of the Sisters of Mercy, who helped expand Catholic education in North Queensland.
See also
In Spanish: Antigua catedral de Santa Mónica para niños
