St. David's Cathedral Tours and Activities

It’s impossible to miss St. David’s cathedral when walking through downtown Hobart. Rising up from the quadrangle of one of Australia’s best Georgian streetscapes, St. David’s cathedral towers above the historic city center, its stones and turrets reflecting a time that dates to Tasmania’s founding. Some of Tasmania’s original pioneers laid the original foundation of St. David’s cathedral in this spot in 1817, when previous structures of St. David’s church were repeatedly blown down in gales. Completely rebuilt in 1868 by the Victorian architect George F. Bodley, the cathedral is considered to be one of his finest works found anywhere outside of England. When visiting St. David’s Cathedral today, visitors are welcome to wander inside and seek sanctuary from the city, taking time to admire the interior and famous St. David’s organ. Regarded as one of the finest in Australia, the organ pipes music to congregations that can number as high as 650, as concerts are regularly held in the cathedral for residents and visitors to Hobart. You’ll also find a small museum with relics from Hobart’s past, and on special occasions the cathedral staff will showcase pieces from the vault—some of which date to Medieval times before the modern, western world even knew Tasmania existed.