EARLY drawings of Goulburn depicted it with a spire.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Even its original architect had plans for the crowning glory on Sts Peter and Paul’s Old Cathedral.
Now architect Andrea Stombuco’s 1871 vision for the grand structure is set to become reality.
A 10-metre spire weighing about nine tonnes will be lifted into place early in the New Year.
Local architect Garry Dutaillis has designed the structure while Pearson Engineering, also of Goulburn, has manufactured the piece.
Restoration committee member Trish Groves said the installation would help celebrate the parish’s 175th anniversary.
“It has been a long process and many dollars to restore the Murphy Bell, renew the housing for the placement of the bell into its original position, construct the spire structure and work towards cladding and final installation,” she said.
The bell, purchased by the Cathedral from the Murphy of Dublin foundry in 1869, has been restored. In its early life in Goulburn it hung in the paddock between the old church and the presbytery but in 1890 it was installed in the newly completed cathedral, according to a report prepared by Dutaillis Architects.
But up until a few years ago, it was rarely rung due to safety concerns.
Investigations revealed it had been installed incorrectly. Tower walls have had to be pinned and its footings underpinned as the bell’s weight had caused it to rotate and lean toward Verner St.
With all this work out of the way, the tower is stable enough to take the spire’s weight and have the bell inserted beneath.
Next Tuesday, Pearson Engineering staff will transport the steel fabricated frame in two parts to the cathedral.
Over the next four to five weeks workers will assemble the structure with a timber ply and then copper plating.
Cranes will lift the spire into place in January.
A lightning rod to protect the cathedral and turret windows, as depicted on Stombuco’s 1871 drawings, will be special features.
In case the bell needs to be restored again in future, the spire can be easily removed to gain access.
Mrs Groves said the original architect drafted two designs for the spire.
“Council preferred the smaller one to fit in with the historic precinct but for us to have the taller design would have been way out of our budget anyway,” she said.
The wider restoration has so far eaten up nearly $2 million in grant funding, including a $1.65m federal contribution.
The Cathedral has also successfully applied for state grants but Mrs Groves said 2013 was tough, with several failed applications.
Mary Queen of Apostles parish is therefore appealing to local businesses and “civic minded people” to help with the spire.
It is asking 80 people to donate $1000 each to reach the target. So far 20 subscriptions have been sold, parish priest Fr Dermid McDermott said. Each donor will have their name engraved on a smaller display inside the cathedral to record their generosity.
Mrs Groves said the spire took over as the main project following the mosaic’s completion on the northern window in 2011.
“We are only working in pieces according to what’s left in the budget and we have a great responsibility to only take on things for which we have grant funding,” she said.
“…The spire is the last little bit of trivia and if there’s money left over we’ll put the cathedral’s hat on. That will be the final bit of dressing up.” Anyone wishing to donate can make cheques payable to Sts Peter and Paul’s Restoration Appeal and forward them to PO Box 11, Goulburn.