Year Completed: 2010
Awards: Heritage Council (WA) Award for Conservation and/or Interpretation of a Residential Place on the State Register [2010].
Awards: Heritage Council (WA) Award for Conservation and/or Interpretation of a Residential Place on the State Register [2010].
Philip Griffiths (Design Architect)
Alistair Ravenscroft (Project Architect)
Calum Chalmers (Sketch Design)
Consultants:
Interior Design:
Susan Griffiths, Genevieve Hartney, Shannon Townley (Griffiths Design Group)
Structural Engineer:
Ian Maitland (Maitland Consulting Structural Engineering)
Civil Consultant:
Daniel Blazeski (Structerre Consulting Group)
Hydraulics Consultant:
Paul White (PM White & Partners)
Mechanical Engineer:
Paul Gray & Christian Lim (WGE)
Electrical & Lift Engineer:
Anthony Lukatelich (WGE)
Fire Engineer:
Darren Wong & David Fitzpatrick (Complete Fire Design)
BCA Consultant:
David Cooley (Miilestone Building Compliance)
Access Consultant:
Ann O'Brien (Ann O'Brien Consulting)
Quantity Surveyor:
Garry March (Davson+Ward)
Landscape Architect:
Justin Notley & Philip Palmer (EPCAD)
Builder:
Colgan Industries P/L
St Mary’s Cathedral Presbytery is a three-storey stone construction, shingle roofed building with a basement, designed by James Manning, built as the Episcopal Palace for Bishop Serra of Perth, in 1855-56. In the nineteenth century, a two-storey verandah addition was erected at an unknown date (before c. 1890) at the northern elevation. In 1911-12, major alterations and additions were carried out as per plans by architect M. F. Cavanagh giving the building an Federation Italianate styling, with further alterations and additions in 1938-39, designed by Howard Bonner & Tracey. Later additions were carried out in brick and the whole of the building rendered and ruled with ashlar line work. While the gradual evolution of the place up to 1939 changed it from a simple Georgian style building, the last set of works extended the building and simplified its architectural expression including the removal of the distinctive roof top balustrade. Subsequently, the exterior has remained largely unaltered, while the interior has been subject to some alterations.
The place was included in the State Register of Heritage Places in 1996.
Philip Griffiths Architects were invited to prepare options for making the place the Archbishop’s home once more and to bring the whole of the place up to suitable standards for the clergy and guests. The project was undertaken to coincide with the conservation and completion of St Mary’s Cathedral.
The work included conservation of the exterior, an underground car park and garden terrace, conservation of the boundary walls, and the upgrading of the building interior. Notable features include the conservation of the main spaces such as the dining room and chapel, the installation of a glass lift in the main entrance foyer, the creation of a small number of suites in place of priest’s cells and conservation of a number of other authentic spaces. All services were stripped out to produce new systems to meet contemporary requirements.
