St Mary Star of the Sea (Peppermint Grove, Western Australia)

The church building is located on Stirling Highway, between McNeil and Forrest streets in Peppermint Grove, a suburb of Perth in Western Australia.[1][2][3] Given its proximity to Cottesloe, it is sometimes said to be in Cottesloe rather than Peppermint Grove.[4] The Presbyterian Ladies' College is located behind the church.[5]

Side view of the church

Plaque

The church building was built in 1904 on land donated by Dr Daniel Kenny (1860-1915).[2][6] It was designed by Australian architect Michael Cavanagh (1860–1941) in the Gothic Revival style.[2] The wrought iron fence and entrance gate, also designed by Michael Cavanagh, were added in 1937.[2] It is made of local freestone and tiles from Marseille in France.[6] It cost nearly £2,000 to build.[6]

It was the second place of worship built in Peppermint Grove after St Columba's Presbyterian Church Hall, which was built on Venn Street in 1896 and later replaced by St Columba's Presbyterian Church on the corner of Venn and Keane Streets.[2] The first service took place on 18 December 1904, when it was blessed by Bishop Matthew Gibney (1835-1925).[6] In the beginning, the church building was used as a school on weekdays.[6]

The church building was restored in 2013 for $120,000.[7]

As of 13 October 2019 the parish priest is Marcelo Parra.[3]

• Media related to St Mary's Star of the Sea Roman Catholic church, Cottesloe at Wikimedia Commons