Ararat, VIC - Church of Immaculate Conception Catholic

History and Architecture:

There are three St Mary's in Ararat. The first was dedicated by Fr Goold in 1868. The second was dedicated by Bishop Moore in 1889 while the third was dedicated in 1928 by Bishop Foley.

The Immaculate Conception Parish Ararat was established in 1858 by Bishop James Alipius Goold OSA of Melbourne.

In 1871 at the request of Fr Hogan a Mr Michael Ryan Architect of Ararat was engaged to draw up plans for a church in an Italian Villa Style. The Presbyterian was to have a frontage of 42 feet to Barkley Street. The estimated cost was 1,200.00. By 1927 the old church was dismantled and the stones were used in the new Church. The foundation stone of the first permanent Catholic Church in Ararat can still be seen on the West side of the present Church.

This new Church had a wooden sanctuary, sacristy and crying room, which was formerly the Nuns' Chapel in the Church. The rest of the Church being more permanently built in bluestone. A few years later the sanctuary was extended by a few feet to make room for the beautiful marble altar which still stands in the Church.

The foundation stone of the new church was laid on 27 March 1927 by Bishop Foley.