2016-03-16 St Mary's Catholic Church, Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia

Built in 1883 when Bairnsdale was declared a parish. It was to accommodate up to 400 people ans was dedicated to Mary Immaculate and blessed by thew Bishop of Melbourne.Twenty three years later an addition was added to provide an entrance porch, baptistery, gallery and a 140 foot tower. It is currently undergoing an update and refurbishing.

However while the exterior of the church is architecturally pleasing, it is the decorated interior that has brought hundreds of thousands of visitors to see it. It is considered one of the most remarkable red brick Roman Churches built by the  architect A.A. Fritsch.

The interior was designed and painted by an Italian artist who migrated into the country  in 1928 and sought work in Melbourne. Francesco Floreani worked as a house painter until the depression when he moved to the country to find work. He was hired by the Priest, Father Cremin,  to paint the church when he found out that Francesco had attended school at Udine College in Italy and studied painting under Lucardi,  a professor at the college. He subsequently hired him to paint the ceilings out of his own pocket. The results are below and one of the paintings, the Crucifixion,  includes Father Cremin and Francesco

                                         

                                         

Entire ceiling was painted

All windows were stained glass

The priest with rod and the painter kneeling with hands clasped.