| 1835 |
|
Settlement of Melbourne (at the head of Port
Phillip Bay) in Port Phillip District of the Colony of NSW. |
| 1839 |
|
Rev Patrick Bonaventure Geoghegan OSF first priest arrives
in Melbourne. |
| 1847 |
July 9 |
Australia Felix established as the Diocese of Melbourne
. |
| 1847 |
July |
The Colonial Secretary grants two acres of land for a church
on Eastern Hill, where St Patrick's Cathedral now stands. Fr Geoghegan
establishes St Patrick's Parish. |
| 1848 |
October 4 |
Bishop James Alipius Goold OSA takes possession of See of
Melbourne. |
| 1850 |
April |
An additional two acres of land is approved for a bishop's
residence. |
| |
April 9 |
Bishop Goold lays foundation stone of first (freestone)
St Patrick's Church. |
| 1858 |
February 14
|
Bishop Goold blesses the first section of the second (bluestone)
St Patrick's Church. Bishop Goold announces a cathedral is to be built
for the diocese. |
| |
November |
William Wardell commissioned to prepare plans for a cathedral
church and work commences. |
| |
December 8 |
First contract for Cathedral signed. |
| 1870 |
March 17 |
Dean Fitzpatrick lays first stone of central tower. |
| 1874 |
March 17 |
Melbourne created a Metropolitan See |
| 1886 |
June 11 |
Death of Archbishop Goold. He lies buried in the Holy Souls
Chapel. |
| 1887 |
June 11 |
Archbishop Thomas Carr arrives in Melbourne. |
| 1897 |
October 27 |
Consecration of St Patrick's Cathedral under Archbishop
Thomas Carr. |
| 1913 |
March 23 |
Arrival of Dr Mannix, coadjutor to Archbishop Carr. |
| 1917 |
May 6 |
Death of Archbishop Carr who lies buried in the Sacred Heart
Chapel. Archbishop Daniel Mannix becomes third Archbishop of Melbourne. |
| 1937 |
March 31 |
Contract for central spire signed - Conolly and Vanheems. |
| |
October 31 |
Contract for front spires signed. |
| 1939 |
March 31 |
Spires completed and blessed by Archbishop Mannix. |
| 1948 |
May 2-9 |
Celebrations to mark Centenary of Diocese of Melbourne. |
| 1963 |
November 6 |
Death of Archbishop Daniel Mannix who was succeeded by Archbishop
Justin Simonds. |
| 1967 |
July 30 |
Installation of Melbourne's fifth Archbishop, Archbishop
James Knox. |
| |
October 3 |
Death of Archbishop Simonds. |
| 1970 |
November 15 |
First Masses on New Sanctuary. |
| 1974 |
July 24 |
Pope Paul VI confers title and dignity of Minor Basilica
on St Patrick's Cathedral |
| |
August 18 |
Installation of Melbourne's sixth Archbishop, Archbishop
Little. |
| 1986 |
November 28 |
Pope John Paul II addresses clergy in the Cathedral on occasion
of his Papal Visit. |
| 1989 |
December 8 |
Archbishop Little blesses and restores bells. |
| 1992 |
June 7 |
Ceremony to mark the Inauguration of Restoration and Conservation
Works. |
| 1996 |
July 16 |
Retirement of Archbishop Little. |
| |
August 16 |
Archbishop Pell becomes Melbourne's seventh Archbishop. |
| 1997 |
|
St Patrick's Cathedral restoration works completed. Centenary
of the Consecration of the St Patrick's Cathedral and dedication of the
Altar |
| 2001 |
March 26 |
Archbishop Pell appointed Archbishop of Sydney |
| 2001 |
August 1 |
Installation of Melbourne's eighth Archbishop, Archbishop
Denis Hart
|
| |
|
|
Dates in the History of the St Patrick's Cathedral 
