The original Architect of St Paul's Cathedral was English gothic revivalist William Butterfield.

Butterfield would not travel to the colony however, and so his drawings, some of them life-size, contain extremely detailed instructions, for fear that the antipodeans might get something wrong.

Coloured postcard featuring St Paul's Cathedral, a popular postcard image, created in the early Twentieth Century.

"…the exact length of the various slate shafts is to be sent to Mr Butterfield as soon as the caps are fixed…"

North Transept No. 1 Drawing. Elevation of the top of the stairwell turret and gable.

This drawing shows the extensive and detailed notes and instructions that were dispatched from England with the drawings.

This drawing was done after Butterfield had resigned and Joseph Reed of the firm Reed Henderson Smart had taken over the project.

The spire illustrated in the drawing was not built.

Drawing No. 1 shows detail of the aisle on the north side of the choir.

These hand coloured and drawn plans were sent out from England to guide every stage of the construction of the Cathedral.

This is a photograph of the architect who took over supervision of the construction of the Cathedral after William Butterfield’s resignation in 1884.

The first St Paul's Church was painted by Ludwig Becker who later died on the Burke and Wills expedition of 1860-1861.

This St Paul's Church occupies the site of today's St Paul's Cathedral. This painting is on display in the Cowen Gallery at the State Library of Victoria.

painting : oil on canvas

In this lithograph the old, original St Paul's church can be seen next to the second Princes Bridge, built across the Yarra in 1850 and replaced with the current bridge in 1888.

print : lithograph with hand colouring

The small square building in front of the original St Paul's church is the city's first morgue and Births, Deaths and Marriage Registration Office, roughly where Federation Square now stands.

print : colour lithograph

This engraving from the Australian Illustrated News (7th November 1885) shows The old St Paul's church during demolition. Wood engraving by F. A. Sleap after a drawing by George Rossi Ashton

The article discusses the history of the old church, that was being demolished as part of the preparations for the construction of the new cathedral.

TRANSCRIPT

"With the removal of the St. Paul's Church Swanston Street, disappears one of the old landmarks of Melbourne. For nearly a quarter of a century it served all the purposes of its founders, but with the march of improvement, the expansion of the population... it has had to give way for a more spacious and imposing structure the new Protestant Cathedral..."

print : wood engraving and article

The opening of the Cathedral in 1896 was a big event in Melbourne’s social calendar.

This print accompanied an article - published in the Illustrated Australian News April 1, 1896 - which described the building at its opening. The images in the print are listed as follows: The Bishop’s throne -- Memorial sedilia to Bishop Perry --Saint Paul’s Cathedral -- The Chapter and clerical staff -- The choir -- Ernest Wood -- Bishop Goe -- The pulpit -- Interior of St Paul’s -- Lectern -- The Reredos.

Photomechanical prints

St Paul's 12 bell peal is one of only two outside of England. This article from The Australasian Sketcher December 26 1889 describes the ceremonies at their installation.

This illustration from The Australasian Sketcher December 26 1889 showcases the inner workings of the bells.

A postcard featuring St Paul's Cathedral with a tram travelling south down Swanston Street.

Looking along Flinders Street from Swanston Street with St Paul's Cathedral on the left and Princes Bridge Station on the right.

The new cathedral, completed in 1891, was a popular subject for postcards.

This view from Flinders Street Station shows the cathedral spires still under construction. Trams have run past the cathedral along busy Swanston Street since 1888.

St Paul's Cathedral, designed by the eminent English Gothic Revival architect, William Butterfield, in 1878, took many years to complete. The spires, designed by the Sydney architect James Barr, were not added until around 1930.

oil on canvas on (cardboard)
(38.0 x 45.8 cm)
Felton Bequest, 1931
4531-3

The spires, designed by Sydney architect John Barr, were added in 1933.

The statue in the centre is of the explorer and navigator Matthew Flinders, installed in Swanston Street in 1923.

Photograph published in Walkabout Magazine, from the Charles Weetman Collection.

photograph : gelatin silver

V-E (Victory In Europe) Day, was the day World War II in Europe ended with the surrender of Germany.

A romantic view of St. Paul’s through the mist, with trees in the foreground.

This photograph was published in Walkabout Magazine December 1, 1939. It is identified and titled in ink by Charles Weetman on the back, with the photographer’s number inscribed in pencil as 3656.

The Cathedral has been the site of many important civic and religious ceremonies.

Here crowds gather across Flinders Street in front of Princes Bridge Station, to catch a glimpse of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

photograph : gelatin silver

The Gas and Fuel buildings, completed in 1967, were widely criticised for overshadowing St Paul’s Cathedral. They were demolished in 1997.

In 1964 Princes Bridge Station was demolished and incorporated into the Gas and Fuel or Princes Gate Towers complex.

The old Princes Bridge Station was originally separate from Flinders Street station and was the terminus for Hurstbridge and Epping Lines. This photograph was taken before the construction of the Princes Gate Towers in 1969.

In 1964 Princes Bridge Station was demolished and incorporated into the Gas and Fuel or Princes Gate Towers complex.

The old Princes Bridge Station was originally separate from Flinders Street station and was the terminus for Hurstbridge and Epping Lines. This photograph was taken after the construction of the Princes Gate Towers in 1969.