St Mary's Church already had a 'reasonable history', having had a wooden church built on the site of the current Presbytery in 1858.
On the 29th July, 1869 the foundation stone was laid by Archbishop Quinn for the start of the current building. (Other extensions were completed in 1885.)
1936 was a big year, as Monsignor McCarthy had approved substantial alterations to St Mary's, with design by local architect, P.O.E. Hawkes, and carried out by contractor Herbert Neilson for £7,000.
The Foundation Stone (to the left of the Adelaide Street entrance) reads:
A.M.D.G
This Foundation stone, commemorating the extensions,
renovations and completion of this Church,
dedicated to
The Mother of God,
was blessed and placed by
His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Duhig, Archbishop of Brisbane,
on the 22nd March 1936.
J. F. McCarthy P.P. Dom. Pres.
The Dedication Stone
St Mary's church, Maryborough - 1936
From: "St Mary's Parish Maryborough 1861-2011"; 2011
"22 March, 1936 St Mary' Church realigned to front Adelaide Street."
* The building was rendered, and an entrance was formed from Adelaide Street, where previously access was provided only from Bazaar Street.
* A new foundation stone was laid.
* A 'cock' was added to the western gable of the Church reflecting the French ties of Monsignor McCarthy, the then parish priest. Cocks were traditionally added to the roofs of French churches to symbolise resentment over Italian dominance of the papacy.
* Addition of north and south transepts and chancel, sacristies, confessionals and baptistery.
* The organ was moved from the loft to the Sacred Heart transept.
* A marble high altar was made.
* Huge stained glass windows were made and installed.
(From:
"The History of St Mary's Church Maryborough")
"Next Monsignor McCarthy Set about the complete re-modelling of St Mary's so that afterwards one would hardly recognise it as the former "pretty Gothic church". It began on Sunday March 22nd of 1936 when Archbishop Duhig laid the Foundation Stone "commemorating, renovations and completion" of the church. His Grace said he had seen the plans and the people "would be amazed at the wonderful transformation that would take place in the church: they were going to have one of the finest Catholic churches outside of Brisbane". The architect for the work was Mr P.O.E. Hawkes, the contractor Mr Herbert Nielsen and the cost would be £7,000.
"For seven months while the work of remodelling went on, Mass was said in the Parish Hall in Adelaide Street. On Sunday 29th November (1936) Archbishop Duhig, who had arrived by plane the previous day, blessed the "new" church. The Bishop of Rockhampton, Dr Hayes, celebrated Pontifical High Mass in the presence of Archbishop Duhig, Bishop McGuire of Townsville and Bishop Byrne of Toowoomba. Present also on the altar were Monsignor McCarthy, Potter and Molony, Dr English and other visiting priests. The Archbishop praised Monsignor McCarthy's enterprise and continued: "When I came here this morning I said to the congregation that had I not been able to discern the old brick, I would be completely lost as to where the original church is. I say that this church is very beautiful. In carrying out the extensions Monsignor McCarthy has made it like a cathedral." (From pp 65-66, "St Mary's Parish Maryborough 1861-2011", 2011, Brisbane Archdiocesan Archives) (A copy donated very kindly by the current Parish Priest)
Monsignor Rev. J.F. McCarthy was the 6th Parish Priest, from 1926 - 1941
From: "St Mary's Parish Maryborough 1861-2011"; 2011
By the way, this Church was given State Heritage Listing on 21st October, 1992 as a Heritage Building on the State Register.