Monsignor Hawes Heritage Centre Overview

Monsignor Hawes Heritage Centre

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Monsignor Hawes - discover the man behind the work

This modern and beautifully interpreted display showcases the life and architecture of priest and prolific architect Monsignor John Hawes, who arrived in the Mid West in 1915. Excerpts from Hawes’ diaries, endearing anecdotes and factual information paint a picture not only of Hawes’ extraordinary accomplishments but of the man behind the work. The Monsignor Hawes Heritage Centre sits aside one of Hawes’ greatest masterpieces - Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral. The cathedral was one 16 buildings Hawes designed and saw constructed over 24 years in the Mid West, in what was to be remembered as his most prolific design period.

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Address:

56 Cathedral Ave
Geraldton WA 6530
Australia

Tel:

(08) 9937 9504

Email:

mhhc@geraldtoncatholic.org.au

Opening Hours

7 days 10am - 4pm

Model

Jewel in the crown of architect-priest’s constructions

Famed architect-priest Monsignor John Hawes fashioned this stunningly intricate model of Geraldton’s Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral to guide the design of the cathedral which graces Geraldton’s...

Dominie

Faithful friend

If any one aspect of the Monsignor Hawes collection best reveals the man himself, perhaps it’s the story of his love for his dog. The fox terrier, Havelock Dominie, became the priest’s constant...

Silk vestment

A gift of gratitude in grief

In 1924 12-year-old Mullewa boy Selby Arnolds fell into a railway water supply dam. Monsignor John Hawes was among those who tried to rescue the child, diving repeatedly into the muddy waters in a...

Mingenew Historical Society

Farming history brought to life

Mingnew’s original government school, built in 1894, is today home to the extensive collection of the Mingenew Museum. Meander through the former classrooms to witness artefacts dating back to the...

Carnarvon Library and Gallery

Capturing Carnarvon's past

You’ll find the Carnarvon Local Studies library within the Carnarvon Library and Art Gallery building. This treasure-trove of local historical information provides an insight into the region’s...

Museum of Geraldton

Harbourside museum showcasing rich shipwreck history

From its enviable position sprawled along the waters of the Batavia Coast Marina, the Museum of Geraldton paints a picture of the region’s colourful past - from its rich Indigenous heritage through to...

Mullewa Priest House

Monsignor Hawes - discover where he lived and worked

Wander through the former home of famed architect-priest Monsignor John Hawes and it’s easy to imagine this remarkable man inhabiting its rooms. Hawes designed and built the presbytery for himself in...