aquilareen
Bendigo Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral
Foundation stone 25 Jun 1897 by Bishop Stephen Reville, designed by William Tappin of Melbourne, nave & side aisles opened 29 Sep 1901, lantern towers 1908. Second stage foundation stone 16 Oct 1955 by Cardinal Gilroy, architects Alan Ralton & Frank Turner, opened Oct 1973. Tower & spire completed 1977 and Cathedral consecrated 14 May 1977. Granite foundations from Harcourt near Bendigo, walls of sandstone from Geelong region, dressings & carvings of limestone from Waurn Ponds & Mount Gambier, floor of Italian marble.
“The site upon which it stands it stands is part of the estate of the late Dr. Backhaus, and the funds necessary for its erection are in the main the fortune which as the pioneer priest he acquired in the rich free spending days of early Bendigo. Dr. Backhaus died in 1881, and a large portion of his estate was left in trust for 20 years for the benefit of the church.” [The Argus 23 Sep 1901]
“Mr. Percy Bacon, of the firm of Messrs. Percy Bacon & Bros., artists in stained glass, of London, who is at present on a visit to Adelaide, has done much for the cause of ecclesiastical art in England, , , The most beautiful church in Australia when it is complete will undoubtedly be Bendigo Cathedral. It is being built from the designs of Messrs. Reed, Smart, and Toppin, in the early English style, on a site unparalleled, except perhaps in the ease of Durham Cathedral. I have visited the chief ecclesiastical buildings in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Bendigo, and Ballarat. We shall be carrying out several Australian commissions, including windows at Newcastle Cathedral; St. James' Church." [Advertiser 14 Jan 1903]
“The completion of one of the high spiral towers at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart yesterday . . . The tower is 150ft high. The second tower, on the other corner, is well under way, but about six weeks will expire before it is completed. The stone used in the new structures is from Moorabool, near Geelong.” [Bendigo Independent 28 Apr 1908]
“We have been fortunate to secure the services of Messrs. Bates, Smart and McCutcheon, successors of the original architects, and were amazed to find that they had complete designs of the cathedral after more than 50 years.” [Advocate 11 Feb 1954]
“A donation of 5000 bricks for work on the Sacred Heart Cathedral has been received from the Sandhurst Brick Co. Work began a few months ago on the apse, transepts and spire which will complete the building.” [Advocate 13 May 1954]
Bendigo Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral
Foundation stone 25 Jun 1897 by Bishop Stephen Reville, designed by William Tappin of Melbourne, nave & side aisles opened 29 Sep 1901, lantern towers 1908. Second stage foundation stone 16 Oct 1955 by Cardinal Gilroy, architects Alan Ralton & Frank Turner, opened Oct 1973. Tower & spire completed 1977 and Cathedral consecrated 14 May 1977. Granite foundations from Harcourt near Bendigo, walls of sandstone from Geelong region, dressings & carvings of limestone from Waurn Ponds & Mount Gambier, floor of Italian marble.
“The site upon which it stands it stands is part of the estate of the late Dr. Backhaus, and the funds necessary for its erection are in the main the fortune which as the pioneer priest he acquired in the rich free spending days of early Bendigo. Dr. Backhaus died in 1881, and a large portion of his estate was left in trust for 20 years for the benefit of the church.” [The Argus 23 Sep 1901]
“Mr. Percy Bacon, of the firm of Messrs. Percy Bacon & Bros., artists in stained glass, of London, who is at present on a visit to Adelaide, has done much for the cause of ecclesiastical art in England, , , The most beautiful church in Australia when it is complete will undoubtedly be Bendigo Cathedral. It is being built from the designs of Messrs. Reed, Smart, and Toppin, in the early English style, on a site unparalleled, except perhaps in the ease of Durham Cathedral. I have visited the chief ecclesiastical buildings in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Bendigo, and Ballarat. We shall be carrying out several Australian commissions, including windows at Newcastle Cathedral; St. James' Church." [Advertiser 14 Jan 1903]
“The completion of one of the high spiral towers at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart yesterday . . . The tower is 150ft high. The second tower, on the other corner, is well under way, but about six weeks will expire before it is completed. The stone used in the new structures is from Moorabool, near Geelong.” [Bendigo Independent 28 Apr 1908]
“We have been fortunate to secure the services of Messrs. Bates, Smart and McCutcheon, successors of the original architects, and were amazed to find that they had complete designs of the cathedral after more than 50 years.” [Advocate 11 Feb 1954]
“A donation of 5000 bricks for work on the Sacred Heart Cathedral has been received from the Sandhurst Brick Co. Work began a few months ago on the apse, transepts and spire which will complete the building.” [Advocate 13 May 1954]