St John’s Catholic Church
St John the Evangelist Church stands proudly beyond the historic Richmond Bridge, making it one of Tasmania’s most photographed landmarks. Opened on 31 December 1837, it holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously used Catholic church in Australia. Its origins trace back to Bishop John Bede Polding, the first Catholic bishop in the country, who in 1835 blessed the foundation stone—an act remembered as the very first formal duty of an Australian Catholic bishop.
The original design, by English architect Henry Edmund Goodridge, was a simple rectangular building that served the Richmond community for over two decades. In 1858, under the leadership of Fr William Dunne, the church was enlarged with a chancel, sacristy, and steeple, adapted from designs by renowned English architect Augustus Pugin. Despite some loss of detail in translation, the blend of Goodridge’s simplicity with Pugin’s Gothic influences created a distinctive structure that has charmed parishioners and visitors for more than 160 years.
Over time, the spire has undergone several changes—from the original wooden version in 1859, replaced in 1893, to the current copper-clad spire installed in 1972. Inside, the church is equally rich in history. Highlights include a limestone baptismal font brought from England in 1844, a rare stained glass window by Joseph Bell, and a striking 1828 painting of the Adoration of the Magi by American artist Mather Brown. Together, these details make St John’s not only a place of worship but also a living museum of history, art, and architecture.