St Mary's Presbytery, Warwick

St Mary's Presbytery is a Catholic residential building in Warwick featuring a distinctive tower and verandahs, constructed from local materials with pronounced nineteenth-century architectural details on Palmerin Street. The structure provides living quarters for parish priests and administrative spaces for various church operations.

The building was constructed between 1885 and 1887 by builder John McCulloch and served as the residence of Father James Horan, who led the growth of the Catholic community in Warwick. This period marked the expansion of Catholic presence in the developing town.

The building demonstrates how the Catholic community shaped Warwick's development through its prominent placement and generous design. Its architecture shows the influence that the church held over the town's social life.

The presbytery is located on Palmerin Street in central Warwick and is easy to find when exploring the town's religious buildings. The site works well for observing nineteenth-century architecture and understanding how the church shaped the community.

During World War II, the presbytery served as a base for army chaplains, adding a military history dimension to the site. This unexpected role shows how the building mattered to the community in ways beyond its religious purpose.