St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide

A Gothic Revival Anglican cathedral in North Adelaide with twin spires overlooking the city.

The cathedral is built in the Gothic Revival style, which copies the pointed arches and tall towers of medieval churches. Its south front has features like Notre Dame in Paris, including a large, ornate rose window above the main door that shows stories of South Australia and the Bible. The card on the globe dates the finished building to 1904.

How was it built?

Adelaide's first bishop, Augustus Short, wanted a cathedral for years. A first plan for a site in Victoria Square was ended by a court case in 1855, which found the land grant was not valid. In 1862 he bought an acre in North Adelaide instead. William Butterfield in England drew the design, but distance caused delays, so the Adelaide architect Edward John Woods finished the plans, giving them a French Gothic character.

A long building story

Bishop Short laid the foundation stone on St Peter's Day 1869, in front of over a thousand people. The first service took place on St Peter's Day 1876, though the building was not finished. Work stopped in 1894 when the money ran out and started again some years later, completing more of the building. The women of the diocese raised money to buy an organ for the cathedral.

On the globe

The model shows the Gothic cathedral with its twin spires. Look for the pointed arches and the two tall towers.