St Mary's by the Sea, Port Douglas, Heritage-listed church in Port Douglas, Australia
St Mary's by the Sea is a heritage-listed timber church in Port Douglas, Queensland, set on a small headland right by the water's edge. Large glass windows behind the altar open onto a view of the Coral Sea and the ranges behind it.
The original Catholic church on this site was built in 1881 and destroyed by a cyclone in 1911. A new building went up in 1914 and was later moved to its current location closer to the water.
The church is not tied to any single denomination and is open to people of all faiths for weddings, memorial services, and other personal ceremonies. This openness makes it a gathering point for the whole Port Douglas community.
The church is open to visitors, but it is worth checking ahead as the building is often used for private events. Because it is a small timber structure, the interior is best seen in a small group or on your own.
In 1988 the building faced demolition and local residents organized to save it by physically moving it to its present site. The whole structure was rolled to its new position, which was an unusual operation even by the standards of the time.
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