Sydney is currently undergoing a period of significant urban transformation, from the long-awaited Western Sydney International Airport to the revitalisation of the North Sydney Olympic Pool and the creation of a new 60-hectare parkland in the heart of the city. Joining this pipeline of major infrastructure is a substantial development in the city’s north that adds a rare religious landmark to the mix — Australia’s first new Roman Catholic cathedral in more than a century. Proposed for the northern suburb of Waitara, the development is designed to bring together community, educational and administrative functions within a single precinct, serving a regional population of roughly 250,000 Catholics across the North Shore, Northern Beaches and Central Coast.
Inside the proposed cathedral precinct
The design of the precinct is being led by London-based Níall McLaughlin Architects (NMLA), marking the firm’s first project in Australia. The practice was selected through an international process and is working alongside local firm Hayball to spearhead the masterplan.
Moving away from the traditional model of a standalone religious building, the proposal brings together a mix of uses across the site, linking the new cathedral and its forecourt with a series of supporting facilities, including a parish hall, a pastoral centre, and a dedicated base for CatholicCare to assist seniors and people with disabilities.
The site also integrates the existing St Leo’s Catholic College, merging the educational campus with new diocesan offices and clergy residences. This layout positions a cafe, bookshop, and social services in the same vicinity, with additional community and support facilities planned across the site. The design draws on the surrounding Hawkesbury–Nepean landscape, using timber and sandstone to echo the bluffs and caves found throughout the river system. The existing blue gum forest will be retained as part of the site, with rooftop gardens also planned to support biodiversity and keep the precinct connected to its natural setting.
What’s next for the project
The project is still in its early stages, with plans yet to go through formal approvals. If it progresses, the precinct will be delivered over several years, supported by a mix of institutional funding and a dedicated fundraising campaign.
Archbishop Anthony Randazzo, who was recently appointed to a senior Vatican role, will remain as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Broken Bay for the next three months as the project moves through its early phase.
Once complete, the precinct is expected to become a long-term fixture in Sydney’s north, adding a new civic and community space alongside the cathedral itself.
