Cathedral precinct on the home stretch

Manuka Redevelopment Progress, 15 October 2016

The Archdiocese’s much-anticipated Manuka precinct, which will be known as The Thomas Cahill Centre and Marian Place, is on the home stretch and well on track for its June 2017 opening.

Archdiocesan Financial Administrator Helen Delahunty is pleased with the project’s progress despite above average rainfall throughout spring.

“The building works are well and truly on target, so much so that construction progress is likely to get to Christmas ahead of schedule,” she said.

Builders will down tools over the Christmas break with work to recommence on January 4.

The post-Christmas period will be about putting the finishing touches to the project which began with an official sod-turning in June 2015.

Ms Delahunty said she was excited by how well the building phase has gone.

“In racing terms we are on the home straight now I guess,” she said.

“Although there is still a lot of work to be done, it is nice to see what we started a couple of years ago really start to come to fruition.

“There will be pathways and access points for people to walk around the Cathedral and through it, so it will feel like a part of the landscape again.”

Aside from the Thomas Cahill Centre, which will become the home for the Archdiocesan administrative headquarters, as well as the Cathedral Parish, the Manuka precinct will feature 44 independent living units known as Marian Place.

The Marian Place units will be selling in December, and Ms Delahunty said anyone thinking of living there should contact the Archdiocese on (02) 6201 9800.

Photographer Loui Seselja was with Ms Delahunty at the most recent inspection of the building and he captured the latest developments.