Cathedral House (fmr Archbishop’s Palace)

The Archbishop’s Palace is a three-storey building constructed in 1855 for the Roman Catholic Bishop of Perth, Joseph Serra. Built by a well-known Benedictine brother, Giuseppe Ascione, from a design by Serra himself, it presented a rather striking example of Spanish Renaissance architecture, with its wrought iron balustrading to the balcony, supported by Doric columns. This building, costing several thousands of pounds, appears not to have been completed when Bishop Serra was recalled to Rome in 1859. The slowness of construction was probably due to the many calls upon diocesan funds at that time.

In 1850, Bishop Joseph Serra had become the Roman Catholic Bishop of Perth. In the same year, he established a community of thirty religious Brothers on land purchased by his predecessor, Bishop Brady. Serra called the new establishment Subiaco. Labour for the erection of the Palace was provided by the brothers from Subiaco and, later, those from New Norcia.

In 1910, Bishop Gibney was forced to resign because of financial mismanagement. He was replaced by Bishop (later Archbishop) Patrick Clune. Although the Bishop’s Palace had been one of Perth’s landmarks, it had decayed into something of an eyesore. Further, its interior had originally been spartan, in accord with Benedictine principles, and was lacking in 20th century comfort and convenience. Under Clune’s direction the building underwent a thorough transformation in 1911 to supply much-needed extra accommodation, in addition to up-to-date offices and apartments with entirely new wing erected to the east.

The improvements were under the direction of prominent ecclesiastical architect Michael Cavanagh. He was responsible for many of the Catholic Church’s ecclesiastical buildings in Western Australia, as well as numerous other commercial, civic and residential buildings. The Renaissance style of architecture was continued with the additions of an upper balcony with an ornamental balustrade, supported by Ionic columns, springing from a wide piazza. The view from the upper balcony was a fine one, taking in the whole of Perth Water, with its background of South Perth and Melville Waler, with the King’s Park flanking the scenery on the right. The additions and alterations were carried out at a cost of £7,000.

In the mid-1930s, under Archbishop Prendiville, a substantial amount of building took place for the Roman Catholic Church in Western Australia. The administrative functions of the Archbishop’s office expanded and, in 1936, a new section was added to the eastern side of the Palace, which substantially increased the size of the building. The addition was in the same style as that used by Cavanagh in 1911.

The building has continued in use as the Archbishop’s offices and as a short-term residential accommodation for Church purposes on the upper floors, although the Archbishop no longer resides in the building.

Western Mail 2 December 1911