Brief History

On February 8, 1863, Bishop Salvado laid the foundation stone of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on a reserve of land known as Victoria Square. Father Martin Griver, later Bishop of Perth, was responsible for the building, which forms part of the nave of the present Cathedral. The architect and master mason was Brother Joseph Ascione, a Benedictine Oblate from Naples. It was built in the Italian style. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was blessed and opened on January 29, 1865.

Bishop Patrick Clune CSsR, fourth Bishop of Perth, set out to build the third Cathedral, the foundation stone of which was laid on April 25, 1926. It was opened at the height of the "Great Depression" on May 4, 1930. The original plan envisaged the present apse and transepts with a nave extending towards Murray Street.

The intention always was to finish it in Gothic style. Due to the Depression, World War Two and its aftermath no funds have been available for this undertaking and you can still see the iron bars standing ready to link the two parts of the Gothic Cathedral.

The late Mr M F Cavanagh, architect, designed the building in the English style of perpendicular Gothic. The Builders chosen for the work were A T Brine and Sons. The main building stone was taken from the same quarry which supplied the stone for the General Post Office in Forrest Place. A Sydney firm, Melacco Brothers made the sanctuary mosaics, from designs taken from the ancient Irish Book of Kells. All stained glass windows were designed and executed by John Hardman of Birmingham, England.

In 1973 Archbishop Sir Launcelot Goody decided to bring the sanctuary area into line with the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. The central altar and lectern were added to the sanctuary. The redesigned sanctuary was consecrated on August 12, 1973.