Christmas at St. Patrick’s.

Colonial engraving of St. Patrick’s at Christmas time.

In 1858 William Wardell was commissioned to plan the cathedral with a contract signed on 8 December 1858 and building commencing the same year. Although the nave was completed within 10 years, construction proceeded slowly, and was further delayed by the severe depression which hit Melbourne in 1891. Under the leadership of Archbishop Thomas Carr the cathedral was consecrated in 1897 and even then it was not finished. The building was officially completed in 1939.

From the original edition of the Australian Sketcher