A new Roman Catholic cathedral planned for Sydney will be the first in Australia in more than 100 years to be masterplanned from its inception.
London-based firm Niall McLaughlin Architects (NMLA) was selected following an invited international process as the architect for the building, which will be located in the North Shore suburb of Waitara, with local practice Hayball appointed as executive architect.
NMLA said the design was inspired by the Hawkesbury River and “envisions a congregation ebbing and flowing beneath a forest of timber framing, contained by sandstone structures of local bluffs and caves”.
The project will contain a rooftop garden to complement the 7.7 hectare precinct’s existing blue gum forest, which will be preserved, and will also include a forecourt with a café and bookshop, a parish hall, pastoral centre, residences for the bishop and clergy, diocesan offices and a new home for Catholic Care.
“Key to the project vision is the creation of a lifelong journey for congregants: from Baptism through to early learning, primary, and secondary education – ensuring the cathedral is a living centre that serves all ages of its community,” NMLA said.
“The design highlights responsible, sustainable materials that complement the natural setting, in keeping with Pope Francis’s call to care for our common home.
“Generous public spaces will embed the site within the neighbourhood and welcome the community – creating a place that prioritises people and permeability.”
The cathedral will serve about 250,000 Catholics who live within the Diocese of Broken Bay, and Archbishop Anthony Randazzo said it would be a “a home for faith, a place for community, and a commitment to the faithful of today and for future generations”.
“The vision for the Precinct, and its design will represent a visible and living heart for diocesan life, where worship, formation, pastoral care, outreach, and administration come together in service of commission, community, and the common good,” he said.
“The appointment of Niall McLaughlin Architects signals we are moving ahead with confidence to create a community legacy for generations to come.”
Development application are yet to be lodged for the project, which will be part funded by the church and part by a fundraising appeal.
NMLA was also recently announced as the winner of an international competition to designed the Museum of Jesus Baptism at Bethany, Jordan, and in January Mr McLaughlin was awarded the 2026 Royal Gold Medal for Architecture by the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Header image: The new cathedral (NMLA).
