I am pleased to announce that the Federal Government will provide
$5 million from the Federation Fund towards the restoration of St
Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney.
This contribution towards the St Andrew's Appeal Fund will help
restore this important heritage listed building by the year 2000.
It is fitting that St Andrew's, as the mother church of the Sydney
Anglican Diocese, be assisted from the Federation Fund.
The Cathedral is the first constructed in Australia, designed by Francis
Greenway with its foundation stone laid in 1819 by Governor Lachlan
Macquarie. Finally consecrated in 1868, the physical and spiritual
history of St Andrew's is entwined with the growth of Sydney,
and of our nation.
Now, after years of wear and tear, the fine yellow Sydney sandstone
which is the physical shell of this fine Gothic cathedral is in desperate
need of restoration.
The Commonwealth's contribution towards the restoration will
importantly provide jobs and training in stonemasonry, not solely
for the substantial reconstruction, but also for on-going maintenance.
St Andrew's Cathedral has been a source for spiritual comfort
and guidance for Sydney-siders since before Federation. I am proud
that the Federal Government is contributing to the restoration of
this significant and historic Cathedral, and I urge others to similarly
lend their support to this worthy restoration project.
The Commonwealth's contribution matches that made by the previous
Government to the restoration of Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral.
This will bring to $369 million commitments made to date from the
$1 billion Federation Fund announced in the last Budget.