St Patrick's Cathedral

St Patrick's Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bunbury. The diocese was established by Pope Pius XII in 1954, and the existing church on Symmons Street was elevated to cathedral status at that point. The building now standing is a reconstruction: a tornado in 2005 destroyed the original 1921 structure, and the new cathedral was built between 2006 and 2011, consecrated on 17 March 2011 — St Patrick's Day.

The Catholic Cathedral Precinct is listed on the Western Australia Heritage Register, recognising the site's historical and religious significance to the region even though the current building is relatively modern. The interior is light and contemporary, designed to serve a working diocese rather than as a tourist attraction.

The cathedral stands at the southern end of the CBD, a short walk from Victoria Street's cafes and the Marlston waterfront.

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A story
In 2005 a tornado tore through Bunbury and so badly damaged the original cathedral that it had to be demolished — an extraordinary fate for a building that had survived since 1921. The replacement, consecrated on St Patrick's Day 2011, is a contemporary structure that incorporates elements of the original design and occupies the same heritage-listed site.