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The Catholic Church in South West Queensland LIVE STREAM MASS

St Patrick’s Cathedral Restoration Project

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Welcome

St Patrick’s Cathedral holds a special place in the life and history of our diocese. It stands as a visible sign of our unity and as the spiritual home from which the bishop leads God’s holy people. Recent restoration work has breathed new life into this beautiful building, and in many ways, it looks almost new again.

Those who know St Patrick’s well will appreciate that there is still much to be done inside the cathedral to allow its true beauty to shine. One of our major priorities is the restoration of the cathedral’s windows, many of which are now in urgent need of repair. I hope we can all take pride in our cathedral and join together to support the important work ahead.

Bishop Ken Howell
Bishop of Toowoomba

Cathedral Construction and Restoration Timeline

March 1874
March 1889
August 1900
September 1929
April 1932
March 1935
March 1986
March 2020
December 2024
Construction Begins

Construction starts on the new St Patrick’ Church.

Blessed and Opened

St Patrick’s Church was blessed and opened by Archbishop Robert Dunne, Archbishop of Brisbane and Fr T O’Connell, Parish Priest.

Blessing and Laying of Foundation Stone

Foundation stone was laid by Bishop Robert Dunne, Bishop of Brisbane and Fr T O’Connell, Parish Priest. “..a thousand people attend the ceremony and it was conducted with all the solemnity as prescribed in the Roman Ritual at that time.…
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Toowoomba Becomes a Diocese

Bishop James Byrne is consecrated as the Diocese of Toowoomba’s first Bishop. St Patrick’s becomes a Cathedral.

Foundation Stone Laid for Extension

Foundation stone of extension, transepts and sanctuary, laid by Bishop James Byrne and Mons Michael McKenna, Administrator of the Cathedral.

Extension Blessed and Opened

St Patrick’s Cathedral, with completed extensions, opened and blessed by Archbishop James Duhig, Archbishop of Brisbane.

Cathedral is Heritage Listed

St Patrick’s Cathedral is entered in the Register of the National Estate by the Australian Heritage Commission.

Foundation Stabalised

Under the direction of Bishop Robert McGuckin, extensive work was carried out on the cathedral’s foundation, where subfloor works were necessary to address building movement. These works included the installation of a root barrier along the tree line to the…
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Exterior Works Completed

Restoration work continues under Bishop Ken Howell. The exterior of the building was cleaned and repaired. The roof was also repaired, repainted to mimic the original galvanised roof, and original dormers (ventilation) reinstalled.

Support Current Projects

Windows Project

The next phase of the restoration project will focus on the cathedral’s magnificent 173 m² leadlight glass windows. This meticulous work, estimated to cost $2.5 million, will be carried out by skilled artisans dedicated to renewing these windows to their former glory.

Dedicate a Window

National Trust Queensland Partnership

We are proud to partner with National Trust Queensland to provide the option for tax‑deductible donations towards the cathedral’s restoration.

To donate through the National Trust:

  1. Click DONATE NOW.
  2. Scroll past GIVE NOW.
  3. Select St Patrick’s Cathedral Toowoomba.
Donate now

Join Our Charity Raffle!

Charity raffle tickets are now available through Play for Purpose and $5 from every ticket goes directly to restoring Toowoomba’s historic Cathedral. Don’t miss your chance to win amazing prizes and support a meaningful project!

Purchase Tickets

Big Band on the Green

Join us for a family‑friendly afternoon of big‑band favourites on the green beside the Cathedral. Featuring classics made famous by Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, and other popular artists – performed live by the Jim Miller Big Band. Bring your picnic, relax, and enjoy a wonderful evening together as we raise funds to protect and restore our Cathedral.

Purchase Tickets

Dive into the History and Stories Behind the Building