Dee Why, NSW - St Kevin's Catholic

History and Architecture:

The Parish of St. Kevin was established in 1928 when it was detached from Manly.

The current Church was built by Judge and Rock in precast concrete segments. Each precast section, which is 1 in. thick, was stressed together by single wires anchored against the steel pipes at each surface edge to distribute the anchorage forces uniformly into the shell.

The roof and walls of the church constitute an anticlastic or saddle shaped shell not needing the usual support of edge beams. The church, seating 500, is joined to the presbytery by means of a covered way forming the effect of a cloister or parish square. The building group will be dominated by a bell tower 60 ft. high. Contract price was £32,000. Stations of the cross and coloured glass windows were designed by John Coburn, Blake Prize winner.