St Saviour's Cathedral tackles water works

A $300,000 project to rid rising damp from the 1884 Edmund Blackett designed sandstone cathedral is underway.

Sydney architect Michael Fox, who also worked on restoration of St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney 15 years ago, has been toiling away on St Saviour’s conservation for well over a year. The total project is valued at $2 million to $3m.

He described the rising damp as a priority, given the eroding effect on the sandstone. It is soaking up a $150,000 State Government grant, matched by the Cathedral.

Workers have dug a 1.4 metre deep air drain all around the building along the face of the footings. Within this ‘trench’ is an aggregate drain which captures water and through a series of pipes and sumps, sends it into the stormwater system. By doing so, the water does not touch the wall.

Mr Fox said the Cathedral was also contending with rain overflow from the Church Street roundabout above and talks were continuing with Goulburn Mulwaree Council.

Dean of St Saviour’s Phillip Saunders said there was always water underneath the Cathedral.

“It is like a spring,” he said.

Mr Fox has enlisted Stonemason and Artist Pty Ltd to undertake the drainage work.

The roof is next on the ‘to do’ list. Some $200,000 to $300,00 is allocated for critical roof repairs such as unblocking and replacing box gutters.

“Some of these are 150 years old and the lead has broken away,” Mr Fox said.

“...Blackett used neo-Gothic details in his design but they were not necessarily suited to the changing Australian climate.”

But he described it as a wonderful building on which he was honoured to work.

“The people of Goulburn should be really proud of this cathedral and they’re welcome to come down anytime to see what we’re doing. It’s an iconic building.”

The overall conservation is expected to take two to three years. Tax deductible donations are welcome.