In 1878, when he commenced at St Paul’s Cathedral, Bishop James Moorhouse sought to make a statement regarding the place of religion and, particularly, the Church of England in the Colony of Victoria and its capital, Melbourne. By locating it at the city’s transport node, he placed it strategically in relation to future developments.

The appointment of William Butterfield, 'the best known English ecclesiastical architect', to design the Cathedral resulted in one of Marvellous Melbourne’s signature monuments. The Cathedral opened in 1891. However, the Bank Crash of 1893 and the depression that followed delayed for some decades the full realisation of Moorhouse’s vision for his Cathedral.

In recent years, its denominational identity has become secondary to its perceived appropriateness as the setting for both formal and informal community celebrations. Following the creation of Federation Square, St Paul’s now stands not only at the gate of the city but at the centre.

Title: St Paul's Cathedral Melbourne

Author: James Grant

ISBN: 9781925003772

Publisher: Australian Scholarly Publishing 

Year: 2014