CELEBRATING the Conservation of St Mary's Cathedral 100 years after the opening of St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, members of the Catholic church and community gathered to celebrate its completion. The finishing touches to William Wardell's Gothic cathedral were added in August this year with the completion of the southern spires. The new spires are the most visible feature of a comprehensive conservation program that has transformed the Cathedral over the last five years. St Mary's Cathedral was built in stages from 1865 and was designed by William Wardell, one of Australia's finest architects. No expense was spared to build the beautiful Gothic Cathedral, whichwas constructed of yellowblock Pyrmont sandstone. In the early 1990s when it became apparent that some of stonework was in a poor condition, the church embarked on a comprehensive conservation program. Stonemason working on some of the decorative carvings for the new spires. Photograph by Vince Sicari The conservation of St Mary's Cathedral was guided by a Conservation Management Plan which was endorsed by the Heritage Council of NSW. The fundamental aim of the work was to conserve the fabric of the historic Cathedral. After decades of weather and pollution, elements of the stonework had started to deteriorate and some were in a potentially dangerous state. The Department of Public Works and Services [DPWS] drew up the master plan for the conservation work. The Heritage Office administered a $5 million dollar grant from the Federal Government for the conservation of the fabric. Work on the western side of the Cathedral has now been completed. The stonework was cleaned, deteriorated stones were replaced and some elements repaired. Stained glass and lead work were also restored. Although conservation began with the western transept, eventually the whole of the Cathedral will undergo repair works. In total some $28 million is proposed in work to the Cathedral. A key issue for the Diocese was how this 19th century building could meet the needs of the Catholic community of the 21st century. Conservation Architect, Vince Sicari explains: "This was an opportunity to look at a whole range of issues. St Mary's is not only a cherished heritage item, but also a building that is used and worshipped in. Our aim was to update the building for modern use while ensuring that the basic principles of heritage conservation were followed." Consequently, a major thrust of the project was to upgrade the building to current standards. New services were installed including: lighting, sound reinforcement, audio loop, power distribution and fire safety. In addition, a new lobby and organ gallery were constructed. When DPWS went back to Wardell's original plans, they could found little documentary evidence of any previous scheme. DPWS therefore designed a modern organ that was sympathetic to the building. The new organ was constructed by Orgues Letorneau of Quebec, Canada. In an operation of technical precision, the organ was built in the Canadian workshop, then dismantled, packed in containers, shipped to Sydney and then reassembled on site at St Mary's. The sounds of the new organ now fill the interior of the Cathedral. Perhaps the most talked about aspect of the conservation work has been the new spires. As the last stage in the construction of the Cathedral, the spires were left unfinished. In what was the biggest stone construction in NSW for the last 50 years, Wardell's original design for the spires has now been completed. The crosses were placed on the spires of St Mary's on the 25th June 2000. Photograph by Vince Sicari. Various options for the construction of the spires were investigated. Possible solutions included cladding a steel frame with pre-cast concrete panels and various other materials such as copper, lead or thin-section sandstone. However, it was Wardell's original solution of load bearing thick stone that met the church's requirements for longevity and repair. The spires were constructed by Waller Constructions while the stone was supplied by Gosford Quarries. The building of the spires was assisted by a $5 million grant from the NSW State Government. The positioning of the crosses on top of the spires in June 2000 marked a significant milestone for the Catholic community. With the joy of seeing Wardell's original design for the Cathedral finally completed, came the reassurance of knowing that the building will now meet the needs of its community for the next 100 years. That special moment marked the completion of the final phase in the construction of the Cathedral. However, explains Vince Sicari, the conservation work continues: "Like all heritage buildings the conservation of the Cathedral is an ongoing process. The master plan details the work that will be done over the next 10-20 years to conserve this beautiful and highly significant building." For further information on St Mary's Cathedral, contact the Dean, Father Tony Doherty, ph: 9220 0400.