Cathedral of St Michael and St John a rare example of one of only four 19th century Cathedrals in NSW and is the second Cathedral to be built in the colony. The design of the building is one of only a few prepared by English architect Charles Hansom for use in Australia and notably modelled on St Osburg's Church in Coventry dating from the 1840s. The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales. The Cathedral of Saints Michael and John is representative example of a mid 19thbcentury Catholic Cathedral which was established during a
Cathedral Church of St. Luke (Portland, Maine) diocese. The cornerstone for the cathedral church was laid on August 15 the following year. The Gothic Revival style structure was designed by New York architect Charles Coolidge Haight. The first services were held on Christmas Day in 1868. The old church building was sold to St. Stephen’s parish. The cathedral was consecrated on October 18, 1877 after the mortgages had been retired. Two year later the cathedral was incorporated by an act of the Maine legislature. Over the years several additions have been made to the cathedral church. The Augustus R. Wright Memorial Rose Window is installed in 1898.