St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
4.5
Historic SitesChurches & Cathedrals
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
St Paul's Anglican Cathedral is a beautiful, historic building, situated in the centre of the City of Melbourne, Australia. It is a place of worship and prayer. St Paul's 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 is a place at the heart of city life.
Suggested duration
< 1 hour
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Central Business District
Full of discovery and delight, Melbourne’s laneways tease the imagination long after you’ve put your weary feet up to rest. They weave through the heart of the city: cafes, bars, restaurants and boutiques, throbbing with conversation and espresso coffee. You never quite know what you’ll find around the next corner: cobblestone alleys, old beer barrel hoists and even vats of simmering organic soup. There is the air of Berlin in the street art, a touch of Paris in the umbrella-shaded cafes and, reminiscent of Rome, eateries tucked away in the most unlikely of places. Perhaps you might want a break and cross the Yarra River to Southbank - walk along the promenade, bask in the sun at a waterside bar and decide whether to go to the nearby casino or book a ticket at the Melbourne theatre company.
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See what travellers are saying
  • Jeffry b
    Essendon, Australia13,783 contributions
    Impressive, even if you are not religious
    St Paul's is a magnificent edifice, a beautiful house of prayer and worship. It is frequently used for State occasions. St Paul's is the cathedral church for the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne. It's impressive, even if you are not religious.
    Visited December 2022
    Written 14 December 2022
  • Archaeobuff
    Sydney, Australia2,012 contributions
    Great interior
    For a protestant church it is quite colourful inside and vey impressive. The stained glass windows and altar area are the highlight. Well worth stepping inside as it is more attractive inside than out.
    Visited November 2022
    Written 22 December 2022
  • Mscc
    Iloilo City, Philippines70 contributions
    Beautiful Architecture
    My first time to see Cathedral in Melbourne and i was amaze on how it look like from inside and out.its really beautiful.i really loved visiting churches and im so happy i visit this Cathedral on my first visit to Australia.come and put this on your list you will loved it.♥️
    Visited August 2022
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 January 2023
  • Wesley C
    Tucson, Arizona9,878 contributions
    Attend the Choral Evensong
    St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral is in the heart of downtown across from Flinders Street Station and Fed Square. Construction of this Gothic masterpiece began in 1880 and it opened in 1891. The spires (315 ft high) were added in 1926-32. Exterior is dark sandstone and the interior is sandstone, limestone and bluestone. Very beautiful inside and out. I visited in late afternoon and was able to come back at 5:10pm to attend the Choral Evensong and hear the magnificent pipe organ (built in England in 1890).
    Visited November 2022
    Written 18 January 2023
  • CoolGuy
    Singapore, Singapore711 contributions
    Beautiful Cathedral
    We came here after visit to shrine of remembrance by tram 1. External facade is amazing. Internal looks good. Of course we seen more beautiful internals at other countries. Nonetheless, worth a visit!
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 16 February 2023
  • Joyman L
    Perth, Australia1,513 contributions
    Pocket of calm in the city
    Visited in Feb 2023 We visited on a Sunday early afternoon and there was a choir practice going on. We were able to sit along the pews and admire the architecture and choir. We refrained from taking pictures inside out of respect for the choir group. Beautiful church inside and out. There is also a church shop inside on the way out. Donations can be made electronically as well. Definitely worth the quick visit (15-30min) to admire the architecture and escape the hub-bub outside.
    Visited February 2023
    Written 4 March 2023
  • Stewarts Vacation
    991 contributions
    Peaceful atmosphere in beautiful cathedral
    Loved that you could wander into the peace and quiet of this beautiful cathedral and spend time admiring the ornate interior. The original baptismal font, 1891 organ and stained glass windows were of particular significance. There was a small shop selling books and other items at fair prices. Well worth a visit.
    Visited March 2023
    Written 31 March 2023
  • Jeffry b
    Essendon, Australia13,783 contributions
    Imposing cathedral is built of sandstone
    This imposing church is the Anglican Cathedral Church of Melbourne. St Paul's is built of sandstone, it is impressive. The cathedral contains many memorials, which indicate its central role in the life of the State of Victoria. St Paul's is often used on State occasions, such as State funerals. St Paul's is situated in one of the City's prime locations, it's easy to find.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 16 August 2023
  • Jeffry b
    Essendon, Australia13,783 contributions
    Part of the continuing Anglican tradition
    St Paul's Anglican Cathedral is handsome; it has played a role in many religious and community events. St Paul's is mainly built of granite and sandstone. St Paul's part of the continuing Anglican tradition in Australia, St Paul's is an old building, with much to offer. The Cathedral has a prime location, at the corner of Flinders Street and Swanston Street.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 23 November 2023
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4.5
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Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,783 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Friends
St Paul's Anglican Cathedral is handsome; it has played a role in many religious and community events. St Paul's is mainly built of granite and sandstone. St Paul's part of the continuing Anglican tradition in Australia, St Paul's is an old building, with much to offer. The Cathedral has a prime location, at the corner of Flinders Street and Swanston Street.
Written 23 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,783 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Solo
This imposing church is the Anglican Cathedral Church of Melbourne. St Paul's is built of sandstone, it is impressive. The cathedral contains many memorials, which indicate its central role in the life of the State of Victoria. St Paul's is often used on State occasions, such as State funerals. St Paul's is situated in one of the City's prime locations, it's easy to find.
Written 17 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Johnstanno
Singapore, Singapore363 contributions
Jul. 2023 • Couples
Nice cathedral with beautiful architecture. We didn't enter the cathedral but were satisfying enough to just admire its beauty from far and snap some photos of this nice building.
Written 24 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JnVSydney
Greater Sydney, Australia18,314 contributions
Jun. 2023
Built is the late 1800's stands this Anglican Cathedral, the facade is quite ornate, the interior is quite simple in design, however, still quite ornate
Written 15 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stewarts Vacation
991 contributions
Mar. 2023
Loved that you could wander into the peace and quiet of this beautiful cathedral and spend time admiring the ornate interior. The original baptismal font, 1891 organ and stained glass windows were of particular significance. There was a small shop selling books and other items at fair prices. Well worth a visit.
Written 31 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Joyman L
Perth, Australia1,513 contributions
Feb. 2023
Visited in Feb 2023

We visited on a Sunday early afternoon and there was a choir practice going on. We were able to sit along the pews and admire the architecture and choir. We refrained from taking pictures inside out of respect for the choir group.

Beautiful church inside and out. There is also a church shop inside on the way out. Donations can be made electronically as well.

Definitely worth the quick visit (15-30min) to admire the architecture and escape the hub-bub outside.
Written 4 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CoolGuy
Singapore, Singapore711 contributions
Feb. 2023 • Couples
We came here after visit to shrine of remembrance by tram 1.

External facade is amazing. Internal looks good. Of course we seen more beautiful internals at other countries.

Nonetheless, worth a visit!
Written 16 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ange K
15 contributions
Oct. 2022
IF you can attend a full church service or special ceremony, you will be stunned by the singing, the organ, and everything in the way that they do it
Written 24 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wesley C
Tucson, AZ9,878 contributions
Nov. 2022
St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral is in the heart of downtown across from Flinders Street Station and Fed Square. Construction of this Gothic masterpiece began in 1880 and it opened in 1891. The spires (315 ft high) were added in 1926-32. Exterior is dark sandstone and the interior is sandstone, limestone and bluestone. Very beautiful inside and out. I visited in late afternoon and was able to come back at 5:10pm to attend the Choral Evensong and hear the magnificent pipe organ (built in England in 1890).
Written 18 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mscc
Iloilo City, Philippines70 contributions
Aug. 2022 • Couples
My first time to see Cathedral in Melbourne and i was amaze on how it look like from inside and out.its really beautiful.i really loved visiting churches and im so happy i visit this Cathedral on my first visit to Australia.come and put this on your list you will loved it.♥️
Written 8 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne

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