St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne

St Paul’s Cathedral is built on the site where the first public Christian services in Melbourne were led by Dr Alexander Thomson in 1836.

Soon afterwards a small wooden chapel was built elsewhere, and the area became a corn market until 1848, when it was made available for the building of the bluestone St Paul’s Parish Church.

Consecrated in 1852, this Church was used until 1885, when it was demolished to make way for the present Cathedral.

The decision to build on the site of the existing church was made because of its proximity to the railway and soon to be completed cable tramway service.

The Swanston Street and Flinders Street corner remains one of Melbourne’s busiest intersections today, ensuring the Cathedral a place at the heart of city life.