- Address: 136-148 Yarra St, Geelong VIC 3220, Australia
- Website: stmarysgeelong.com.au
- Date of construction: 1854-1937.
- Working hours: 7.00 - 17.00 (at the weekend 7.00 - 17.30)
Geelong - it would seem, an ordinary port city, but within Australia it seems to be a real metropolis. Here lives more than 160 thousand people, which is a very impressive figure on the continent. Annually Geelong is visited by about 3 million tourists, who are attracted in this area not only by natural beauty and rocky coast, but also by a number of sights. Among their number stands a huge number of museums on a variety of subjects, which is quite unusual for a typical city in Australia. A bit of attention deserve the building of the Victorian era in the historic part of the city. But the real gem of the city is the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, which is considered the tallest building in Geelong.
What is interesting about the cathedral?
The construction of this majestic monument of architecture began in the distant 1854, when the cornerstone was laid in the foundation of the church. At that time, Geelong embraced the gold rush, and hundreds of people rushed here for earnings. This provoked very active growth and development of the city. However, this pace lasted no more than two years, and over time the construction of the church froze. The unfinished building glittered with its empty eye sockets of the window frames for more than fifteen years, until in 1871 construction was not resumed. Although the construction of the temple has never reached those crazy tempos, but in 1937 the final stroke was completed - the erection of the spire of the Church of St. Mary of the Angels. In 1995 the building expected a long restoration. 2004 was a landmark for the church, because just then the Vatican appropriated to it the title of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels.
Today, coming to Yarra Street, we can admire the majestic building, whose architecture clearly traces the features of neo-Gothic. The main material for the construction was sandstone. In 2005, the temple took on a rather original sculpture in the form of crossed keys, which crowns the miter. It is cast from bronze and is located immediately under a round stained-glass window in the form of a rose. This peculiar cross was cast from bronze, and its area is no more than a square meter in size. It is dedicated to the memory of Sheila Maguire, who was a regular parishioner, but at one time did many good deeds towards the underprivileged.
However, the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels is considered the main attraction of the city is not because of the sculptures. Since 1937, the main focus is the spire of the church. In height, it reaches 46 m and is the highest in Australia. Yes, and the basilica as a whole is not inferior to anyone in the first place in this regard, rushing up to 64 meters from the ground.
The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels is an honorary status of the National Estate in Victoria. There are various celebrations, mass services and concerts of choral singing, to individual sacraments of baptism and weddings. In addition, here from time to time they arrange a collection of donations, old things and food, which they then give out to the needy. Also in the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels operates its own parochial school. Tourists are allowed here without any problems, the main condition is proper behavior. In addition, you will not be allowed to move around freely and inspect the church during any religious services or sermons. But if some tourist is lucky enough to visit the church on the eve of Christmas, then from the merry and melodic Christmas carols the overall impression of St. Mary of the Angels basilica will only increase.
How to get there?
The closest stop to the St. Mary of the Angels is Little Myers St, which can be reached by buses No.1, 24, 31, 41, 42, 50, 51, 55.
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