St John’s Cathedral Brisbane is a Gothic Revival cathedral on Ann Street, open to visitors every day from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. It is the seat of the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane, it took more than a century to finish, and it is free to wander through.
The address is 373 Ann Street, and Central Station is about a five-minute walk away, so it is an easy stop on a city day out.
What to see at St John’s Cathedral
The stone vaulting
The cathedral describes itself as the only fully stone-vaulted church in Australia, and the stone ceiling is the reason to step inside. The architect was John Loughborough Pearson, and the building went up in three stages: 1906 to 1910, 1964 to 1968 and 1989 to 2009.
The statues
A free fold-out brochure identifies the cathedral’s 13 statues, and a PDF version is on the cathedral’s website. The Cathedral Shop sells a full-colour booklet on the statuary for $5.
The bells
Twelve bells hang in the central tower and are rung in the English style called change ringing. Service ringing is on Sundays from 8.45 am to 9.30 am, and the band practises on Monday evenings from 7 pm to 9 pm. Visitors interested in ringing can email the Tower Captain through the cathedral website.
Stone, glass and flags
The foundation stone was laid on 22 May 1901, and the finished cathedral was reconsecrated on 29 October 2009. The outside is Brisbane tuff from a quarry at Windsor, and the inside is mainly Helidon sandstone from near Toowoomba. The front pillars are limestone from Frosterley in England, about 350 million years old, and the Millennium Window was installed in 2001. The first bells were cast in 1876. In the South Transept hangs a flag described as the last flown at the Gallipoli evacuation on 19 December 1915.
Exhibition and virtual tour
“From Biscuits to Bishops” is a permanent exhibition on women’s ministry in the Diocese of Brisbane. If you cannot get in during the day, the cathedral has a free online virtual tour.
A bit of history
The cathedral and the Deanery (Adelaide House) are listed by the National Trust of Australia (Queensland). Adelaide House was the first Government House when Queensland was created on 10 December 1859. The cathedral is also on the Queensland Heritage Register.
Services and tours
- Sundays: 7.30 am Holy Eucharist, 9.30 am Choral Eucharist, 5 pm Holy Eucharist and 6 pm Choral Evensong. Sunday services are livestreamed on the cathedral’s YouTube channel.
- Weekdays: Morning Prayer, Monday to Friday at 8.30 am.
- Guided tours: request one by emailing the cathedral’s guides ([email protected]). Times and prices are not listed.
Planning your visit
- Cost: free to visit. Tours are by request.
- Cathedral Shop: open 11 am to 2 pm Monday to Friday, after Sunday services and on special occasions.
- Hours: open daily 9.30 am to 4.30 pm; check the cathedral website before you go, as services and events can change access.
You can combine it with the Brisbane City Markets in Cathedral Square, across the road, on market days.
Getting there and parking
By train: Central Station is less than two blocks away, about a five-minute walk along Ann Street. Check TransLink for train, bus and ferry times.
Parking: Kerbside meters on Ann Street operate only from 11 am to 2 pm on weekdays, and Ann Street is a clearway at other times. Secure paid underground parking is at the Cathedral Square Car Park (First Parking), opposite the cathedral. On weekends and after 4 pm on weekdays the rate is $5 with a ticket, or $4 with a free Express membership. Limited parking is available in the cathedral precinct on weekends or for special events.
Accessibility: access is through the doors on the northern side (the car park) and the southern side (St Martin’s courtyard).
Nearby
- Wickham Terrace – the Old Windmill and heritage trail just up the hill.
- Spring Hill – the neighbouring suburb up the hill.
- Brisbane City Markets – markets in Cathedral Square.
- Anzac Square – the shrine and memorial galleries.
- Brisbane City Hall – the clock tower and museum.
- Queen Street Mall – shops and food.
- Roma Street Parkland – gardens next to Roma Street station.
More: history and landmarks and Brisbane.
You might also like
- Regent Theatre (Brisbane City)
- Old Museum (Bowen Hills)
- William Jolly Bridge (South Brisbane)
Quick answers
What are the opening hours of St John’s Cathedral Brisbane?
The cathedral is open to visitors daily from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. Check the website before you go.
Is it free to visit St John’s Cathedral?
Yes, visiting is free. Guided tours are by request.
How do I book a tour?
Email the cathedral’s guides at [email protected]. The website does not list tour times or prices.
Where do I park near St John’s Cathedral?
Use the Cathedral Square Car Park opposite. It is $5 on weekends and after 4 pm on weekdays. Ann Street is a clearway outside the weekday 11 am to 2 pm meter window.
How do I get there by train?
Central Station is about a five-minute walk along Ann Street.
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