A new cathedral for Sydney

The new Cathedral of the Diocese of Broken Bay in New South Wales, Australia is designed by the London-based practice Níall McLaughlin Architects. Located in the suburb of Waitara, 50 km north of Sydney, the complex will include not only the church but also an educational campus and a range of community services, with the aim of becoming the heart of the diocesan community.

The practice led by Níall McLaughlin—professor at the Bartlett School of Architecture and winner of the 2026 Royal Gold Medal for Architecture—won the invited international competition launched by the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay, under the guidance of Archbishop Anthony Randazzo.

A spiritual, civic and cultural complex for Broken Bay

The project for the new cathedral will transform a 7.7-hectare site in Waitara into a spiritual and civic destination of reference for the Diocese of Broken Bay, which today brings together 250,000 Catholics and celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year. The complex will offer a spiritual, civic and cultural meeting place for the faithful of the Diocese, which covers an area of 2,763 km², divided into three deaneries: the Upper Central Coast, the North Shore and the Northern Beaches.

“The Cathedral Precinct is a home for faith, a place for the community and a commitment to the faithful of today and future generations,” said Archbishop Randazzo. “The vision of the complex, and its design, will represent a visible and living heart of diocesan life, where worship, formation, pastoral care, outreach activities and administration come together in service of mission, community and the common good”.

The site will also host a Pastoral Centre, a parish hall and a new home for CatholicCare—providing essential support for the elderly and people with disabilities—residences for the Bishop and clergy, diocesan offices and an educational campus that also includes the facilities of St Leo’s Catholic College. The project aims to create a “virtuous circle” of Catholic life, where spiritual growth is combined with education: children and families will be accompanied along a holistic path from baptism to preschool, primary and secondary education.

Between spatial permeability and environmental protection

The architectural concept draws inspiration from the watershed of the Hawkesbury River, which connects the Diocese’s 26 parishes, imagining a community that flows like a watercourse beneath a forest of timber framing, enclosed by sandstone buildings recalling local cliffs and caves.

The complex is designed to integrate seamlessly into the existing neighborhood thanks to the presence of large public spaces, including the cathedral forecourt with a café and bookshop. The project is based on an idea of spatial permeability, combined with the use of sustainable materials capable of harmonizing with the surrounding natural context: the existing Blue Gum High Forest will be preserved as a public space, with new roof gardens aimed at promoting biodiversity.

The project will be developed in the coming years through a funding strategy that will include institutional capital and a fundraising campaign dedicated to philanthropic contributions.

>>> Discover also the project by Níall McLaughlin Architects for the Museum of Jesus’ Baptism in Bethany, Jordan