St Andrew's Cathedral
A white neo-Gothic Anglican cathedral in the Civic District, its walls finished in a plaster made with egg white and sugar.
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The present St Andrew's was built between 1856 and 1861 after lightning destroyed its predecessor twice, designed by Ronald MacPherson and built largely by Indian convict labour. Its whiteness comes from Madras chunam, a plaster made from shell lime, egg white, sugar and coconut husk, polished to a shine. The interior is early English Gothic with stained glass and memorial tablets, and the cathedral stands on a lawn in the middle of the Civic District.
What you actually see
- The Madras chunam - plaster of shell lime, egg white and sugar giving the white finish.
- The neo-Gothic interior - early English style with stained glass and memorials.
- The lawn setting - a cathedral standing in open green in the city centre.
- The spire - the tower and spire visible across the Civic District.
When to go
Year round; the cathedral is open daily outside services. Sunday services fill it. Mornings are quietest.
Honest expectations
It closes to visitors during services, which are frequent. The interior is plain by European cathedral standards. Construction around the Civic District often obscures the setting.
Nearby
CHIJMES is north, and the Padang is south.
What to pack for St Andrew's Cathedral
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.