The Broken Bay Cathedral Precinct
The Broken Bay Cathedral Precinct is a landmark renewal project designed to create a spiritual focal point and vibrant, integrated centre for Catholic life. The precinct will harmonise a new cathedral with expanded education and community services, all set within a landscape of sustainable materials that complement the natural beauty of the area.
The plan envisions a visible, living heart for the Diocese—a place where faith, education, pastoral care, and community outreach intersect.
The site currently encompasses Our Lady of the Rosary Church, St Leo’s Catholic College, and CatholicCare. Through this renewal, these pillars will be woven into two primary hubs:
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Civic Quarter—Anchored by the new cathedral and open to the wider community, this quarter serves as the public face of the Diocese. It will house replacement facilities for pastoral outreach, diocesan and parish offices, clergy residences, and social services. To support a thriving, diverse community, the quarter will also feature dedicated spaces for community engagement and a new residential housing component.
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Education Campus—A dedicated learning environment that fosters growth from early childhood to adulthood. The campus will integrate Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School (Primary), St Leo’s Catholic College (Secondary), an Early Learning Centre, and specialised post-school facilities.
This project represents the first Roman Catholic Cathedral in Australia in over a century to be master-planned from its inception as a complete, integrated precinct. To realise this vision, the Diocese has partnered with world-class architectural firms:
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Design Architect: Níall McLaughlin Architects (London)
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Executive Architect: Hayball (Sydney)
A planning proposal is expected to be submitted to the Hornsby Shire Council during 2026.
Community consultation material is available at the link below.
Community consultation material
Additional information on the project is available at the project link below.
www.bbcatholiccathedralprecinct.org.au
Cathedral in Sandstone and Timber
Design images for the cathedral show slender twin sandstone spires rising above a public forecourt, with a timber-framed entrance portal centred on a cross at its apex. Inside, an exposed lattice of cross-braced timber members vaults the full length of the nave — a forest of framing that filters light across raw sandstone walls and geometric stained glass panels in deep reds, blues and golds..