Name/TitleSt James' Cathedral, William Street, Melbourne, c. 1865
About this objectAn elevated photograph, taken from the north, of St James Cathedral located on the southwest corner of Little Collins and William streets. The body of the church with its domed tower dominates the streetscape. The wide unpaved William Street is in the foreground, with the parsonage set behind a large garden on the right side of the image, opposite the church.
The architect of the Colonial Georgian style church was Robert Russell. There are two builders mentioned in the records, Alexander Sim[s] and George Beaver. According to a list of accounts published in the Port Phillip Gazette in September 1840, Sim was responsible for the stonework, and Beaver for the woodwork.
The foundation stone was laid by Charles La Trobe in 1839, with the unfinished church being consecrated in 1842. It was finally completed in 1847, becoming Melbourne's Anglican Cathedral after the arrival of Bishop Charles Perry in 1848. The domed tower was designed by Charles Laing, after Russell failed to finish the building, and was known as "Palmer's Pepper Pot" due to the interference of Dr Palmer, the ruling member of the building committee. The building became St James Old Cathedral in 1891 when St Paul's Cathedral was opened.
The church was moved, stone by stone, to its present site at the north corner of King Street and Batman Street between late 1913 and early 1914.
One of the many glass slides purchased from retailers or specifically made for illustrated lectures given by Isaac Selby between c. 1930 and c. 1955 to raise money for the Old Pioneers Memorial Fund.
MakerGunn's Slides (Firm)
Maker RoleSlide Maker
Inscription and Marks"St James' Church, William Street, Melbourne"
Mount: St. James Church / William St c. 1865
Measurements8.2 x 8.2 cm
Period1860-1870
Object TypeGlass slide
Subject and Association KeywordsSelby, Isaac, 1859-1956
Subject and Association KeywordsSt. James' Old Cathedral (West Melbourne, Vic.)
Subject and Association KeywordsStreetscapes
Subject and Association KeywordsRussell, Robert, 1808-1900.
Subject and Association KeywordsPerry, Charles Stuart, 1807-1891
Subject and Association KeywordsLaing, Charles, 1809?-1857.
Subject and Association KeywordsWilliam Street (Melbourne, Vic.)
Subject and Association KeywordsLittle Collins Street (Melbourne, Vic.)
Subject and Association KeywordsPalmer, Sir, James, Frederick, 1803-1871
Named CollectionImages collection
Object numberGS-EM-59
Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved
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