Historical information

St Patrick's Cathedral Hall was erected in 1900 to the architectural plans of Clegg, Kell and Miller. The builder was Peter Bodger.

The Cathedral Hall is a massive structure in the Gothic manner, with slender proportions and Gothic window detailing. The main hipped roof of the hall is intersected on both sides by four gables, and the front ridge is intersected by two further gables to form the street elevation.

Internally the hall resembles many town halls except for the two tiers of Gothic windows and the manner in which the ceiling curves downward towards the walls. Pointed Gothic windows on the upper level intersect the curved ceiling in a simple groined junction.

The plaster ceiling is coffered by intersecting beams, while a central skylight floods the hall with natural light. Other features of note are the ridging on the front gables, and the iron bell tower framed in steel angles and braced with criss-crossed rods, complete with a huge wheel and a great bell.

St Patrick's Hall demonstrates a notable application of decorative schemes, particularly its highly decorated ceiling which has few parallels amongst other church halls in Victoria.

The hall is in an important location as part of St Patrick's complex, as well as part of the group of churches which include St Andrew's Kirk and the former Baptist Church, opposite in Dawson Street. (http://stpatscathedral.weebly.com/cathedral-hall--presbytery.html, accessed 13 November 2013.

Physical description

A series of colour digital photographs showing a large red brick hall associated with St Patrick's Cathedral, Ballarat. The bell tower is situated to the right of the hall.