Cathedral Restoration Update - July 2020

The restoration of the Cathedral of St Michael and St John moves to the final phase The Cathedral precinct has been transformed into a bustling worksite, with the external grounds currently undergoing extensive earthworks and renovations progressing on the inside of the building.

Groundworks are well underway at the Cathedral; this shot taken from the Western side of the Cathedral grounds

Groundworks are almost complete, ready for the concrete slab of the new carpark to be poured

The Cathedral landscape The landscaping work in the Cathedral grounds is currently focused on the carpark and the removal of the brick and concrete surrounds. Cabling for the underground electricity supply to the Cathedral and Parish Centre has been completed.

The excavation of the site has progressed with the new carpark to be built as a concrete slab. With a small depth of excavation now complete, the slab will be poured in the next few weeks.

Excavations completed to allow the construction of a retaining wall and paving at the original ground level around the building

A new electrical switchboard for the underground power supply

An aerial view of the Cathedral carpark earthworks

The foundation for the new carpark awaiting the concrete pour

Traffic island The William Street traffic island has been completed, with gardens and fencing in place. Work has commenced on the new entryway to the carpark.

The recently completed traffic island in William Street

The traffic island from the front of the Cathedral, which will ensure safe traffic control entering the Cathedral precinct from William Street

The external restoration of the Cathedral is now complete The last section of the repointing and replacement of worn external sandstone has been completed.

This marks a major milestone, the culmination of more than five years of painstaking, detailed work with all of the mortar of the original brickwork of the Cathedral being replaced by hand.

The external wall of the previous Cathedral Gift Shop that will be transformed into the new entrance to the Cathedral

The removal of the surrounds of the Cathedral grounds The demolition and excavation on the concrete and brick walls surrounding the Cathedral on the William and Keppel Street sides is well underway.

Having received an arborist’s report that recommended the removal of the existing trees due to disease, rot and other terminal deterioration, their removal, approved by the Office of Environment and Heritage, is now complete.

Suitably sized appropriate trees will be planted in their place.

The brick walls and concrete footings from the William Street side of the Cathedral have been removed

The brick walls and concrete from the Keppel Street side of the Cathedral have been removed and the grounds are being prepared to allow the Cathedral be properly ventilated

From the Keppel Street entrance

The remaining few layers of the brick surrounds in the Keppel Street entrance prior to being demolished

Internal works The relocation of the stained glass window from the former gift shop and the four windows from the Vesting Sacristy (the former Mortuary Chapel) to the Keppel Street Annex is now complete. The windows look magnificent in their new home.

The construction work on the new Cathedral doorway and new Narthex continues, as does the work on the Sacristy bathroom.

Scaffolding has been erected inside the Cathedral, enabling the old fluorescent lights to be removed and new lighting to be installed. Painting will commence in the coming weeks.

Newly installed stained glass windows in the Keppel Street Annex

Work commences on the new Narthex of the Cathedral

The site of the toilets is demolished to allow for new accessible facilities to be installed

The fluorescent lights have been removed from below the upper level of the windows

The grey, rectangle shaped boxes hanging from the support beams are the new lights which have been installed

A closer look at the new lights

The Cathedral is ready to be painted in its new heritage approved colour scheme

And all the while this work is going on, the statue of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop looks on, providing a sense of calm amongst the construction activity

The final stage of the restoration project is due for completion by the end of the year The generations before us have built and cared for our Cathedral. Now it is our turn.

Please give generously to the Cathedral Restoration Appeal. Donations can be made via the following methods:  Tap and Go terminals are located in the Assumption Church, Bathurst  In person at the Catholic Chancery Office Bathurst or at your local parish office  By phone on 6334 6400 or online at bathurst.catholic.org.au, where you will find more information.

Donations over $2 are tax deductible