Northgate, QLD - St John's Catholic

History and Architecture:

The Church was built in 1962, eleven years after it was proposed for construction with the adjacent St. Jon’s Convent School. This church is the only non-military place of worship that was built specifically as a Royal Australian Navy War Memorial.

The design architect was Frank Leo Cullen. He was born c1909 in Brisbane and was the nephew of the Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane James Duhig (‘Duhig the Builder’).

It was the first Australian church of any denomination that was built to honour the war dead of the RAN. King George V had proclaimed the creation of the RAN on 10 July 1911. By 1962, the RAN had fought in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and it was about to enter the Malayan Emergency followed by the Vietnam War.

A Foundation stone reads, " St John's Church This Foundation stone was blessed and laid by he Most Rev J. Duhig DD KC MG LLD Archbishop of Brisbane 13th May 1962. Rev V.J. Rowan P.P.".