The site of St John’s Cathedral was originally an established Aboriginal Campsite, and was used by many Aboriginal ferrymen in the early colonial era.
Construction began on St John’s Anglican Cathedral in 1901 and did not finish until 2009. It was built in the French Neo-Gothic style and is the only stone-vaulted church in the Southern Hemisphere. The cathedral is part of a complex of buildings: Webber House sits behind St John’s and was built in 1905 for St John’s School, which would eventually become Anglican Church Grammar School, more commonly known as Churchie. Church House, opened in 1909, and St Martin’s Hospital, opened in 1922, are also part of the precinct.
Countless artists have studied, sketched, and painted St John’s Cathedral over the years, providing us with multiple perspectives and interpretations.
We can’t say for certain why this is, though one likely reason is its impressive architecture and stone-vaulted ceilings, reminiscent of grand European cathedrals. Could it also relate to the significant role religion played in society throughout the 20th century?
We do know that some artists, including Lloyd Rees, created sketches of famous Brisbane landmarks, including St John’s, that were reproduced as postcards for visitors to the city. As well as creating several paintings of St John’s Cathedral, artist William Bustard designed some of its stained-glass windows.
