Property Managers Report

Gavin Richardson is the Diocesan Property Manager and has provided this report on some of the history and events leading to initiation of the current restoration project.

“It’s recorded that the first Mass in Rockhampton was celebrated in the Court House on 4th May 1862.Although the Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton wasn’t officially formed until December 1881, the site of St Joseph’s Cathedral was purchased on 3rd February 1877. An architect, Mr Sydney Williams, was engaged in November 1880 to prepare plans for the design of a Cathedral. The estimated cost was 8100 pounds.

These plans were not progressed, and in 1892 a new architect, Francis Drummond Greville Stanley of Brisbane completed plans for an elaborate Gothic Cathedral in the shape of a cruciform. Tenders were called on 28th April 1894, and construction commenced on 11th June 1894.

The construction commenced in times of severe financial recession, and it was some five years later that the Cathedral was eventually opened in 1899. The building was not complete, and remained so until 1982, at which time the Sacristy and Chapel were added to the rear of the structure to replace the temporary back wall and finally finish the Cathedral.

Today, two large concrete foundations behind the newly added Sacristy and Chapel, which are planted out, serve to remind us of the original intention that the Cathedral was to be much more elaborate and grandiose, with the recession of the time restricting the continuation of construction to attain the original design of a cruciform.

During the course of the last Century, the Cathedral has been worked on numerous times. It is understood that in 1918, the flying buttresses were found to be unsafe, and were therefore removed. In 1925, the Cathedral was the subject of an indepth examination, which revealed that the overall condition of the building had deteriorated somewhat, and much of this was attributed to the foundations being too shallow, and adversely affected by moisture penetration. It’s believed at this time the steel tie rods across the Cathedral proper were installed to assist with keeping the upper walls perpendicular, and presumably to counteract the earlier removal of the flying buttresses.

Other points of interest relating to the structure were the removal of the stained glass windows during the 2nd World War, at which time they were buried at Neerkol for safe keeping. In 1988, they were again removed and sent back to Birmingham for restoration. Interestingly, it is reported that the windows weren’t ordered originally until 1901, sometime after the Cathedral had been opened for use.

Today in 2009, some 110 years after the building was first opened for use, we find that St Joseph’s Cathedral, whilst in notably good condition, continues to be afflicted by the combination of inadequate foundation design and the effects of moisture on the highly reactive clay subsoils. The recent focus on the Cathedral’s ‘health’ commenced in 2005, when it was observed that a notable deterioration of buttress stone(s) at the base of the north-eastern tower had commenced, and were breaking away. Simultaneously, small pieces of stone started falling from an archway situated over the left hand side of the altar inside the Cathedral on that same eastern side.

Both these ‘occurrences’ indicate that there is some movement in the structure, and being at opposite ends of the building, give rise to concerns as to what might be happening, and whether the situation is likely to develop further. Of course, stone by its very nature is brittle, and indeed its main structural property is that it has significant ‘compressive’ strength - in other words, it has an ability to retain its shape and structure when large ‘crushing’ loads are exerted upon it, whereas other materials would distort, shatter or crumble. However, whilst it has resilience against compressive loads, the properties of stone are such that it will not withstand ‘tensile’ stresses, that is, it has no elasticity, and therefore cannot be pulled or twisted without adverse effect.

So whilst it’s concluded that ‘minimal’ movement will always have a negative effect on stone, the forces involved in the movement are usually very significant. The effects of such movements on stones collectively, which of course have been ‘built’ together to form the structure, can be of the utmost detriment.

On another ‘slant’, the matter of climate change, which is brought into many debates about the reasons for change in many aspects of our daily living, certainly casts its shadow over the century of our Cathedral. Latterly, we’ve adapted to seeming extended periods of drought, and most middle aged city dwellers reminisce over the contrasts of present dry spells in comparison to the perception of the higher frequency of ‘proper’ wet seasons of their youth. Indeed, the effect of contrasting wet/dry cycles on the Cathedral’s foundations could be deemed responsible for practically every aspect of its present day condition.

Formal investigations into the Cathedral’s structural condition were originally commissioned by Bishop Heenan in 2005, and commenced 2006. Under the supervision of Tony Madden Architects, Rockhampton, in consultation locally with Graham Scott & Associates, Consulting Engineers, the Diocese identified a suitably qualified building professional to undertake a preliminary report on the condition of the building. David Atkinson arrived from South Australia in April 2006, and inspected the structure for a number of days, after which a report was tendered for consideration. The report identified numerous aspects of the Cathedral’s structure that required attention. Deterioration of gutters, flashings and remnants left from removal of the flying buttresses back in 1918 were among them. However, the report focused on the situations apparent at the base of the north-eastern tower, and the archway over the altar, and also the ‘stresses’ which were evident at the point of union between the newly added sacristy (completed in 1982) with the original part of the Cathedral. It should be noted at this point that there is the best part of a century which separates the engineering and design techniques used for the original part of the Cathedral and the final completion of it, which would in some ways account for the issues which exist between these two very different parts of the building.

Some focus was drawn toward the ‘submerged’ front step at the front entrance to the Cathedral, where it can be seen that the top of the bottom step is now level with the bitumen surface that partially surrounds the Cathedral. The buildup of surfaces over the years exacerbates the underlying problems and promotes further moisture retention and ingress to the foundations below.

A recommendation was also made that a ‘verticality’ survey be carried out to check how vertical and perpendicular the structure is, and also to have a geotechnical survey carried out to ascertain the nature and condition of the ground beneath the structure.

Local surveyor, Mr Charlie Harris, was subsequently engaged to carry out the verticality survey, which concluded that very little of the original part of the Cathedral had remained true and vertical, whilst the newly added sacristy at the rear remained firm and fast. Of particular interest, is the data gathered on the front towers, which were found to be leaning out in a diagonal fashion, generally in a north easterly direction toward Central Park, by a somewhat dramatic 250mm, or 10 inches. With the towers leaning out, it follows suit that the front wall in between the towers would have come with it, and indeed, this was found to be out of plumb by 150mm, or 6 inches. Other than this, many walls lean out of vertical by between a nominal 10mm and 45mm, whilst the floor of the Cathedral demonstrates a 70mm undulation.

The Geotechnical Survey, carried out by Bowler Geotechnical of Rockhampton, reported a highly reactive clay soil, and highlighted a higher than normal moisture reading part way along the western side of the Cathedral. These findings were in turn submitted to the Architect and Engineer locally, who subsequently recommended that a suitably qualified Consulting Engineer be identified with experience in the field of Heritage Buildings, and engaged to provide further commentary on the matter.

Consulting Engineers, Qantec McWilliam of Brisbane attended the site to inspect the structure. Their report provided useful commentary on the issues previously identified, and offered insight into possible courses of remedial action that could be taken. Of significance was their recommendation to investigate the issue of the front wall between the towers, and to urgently check the bearings of the roof members on that wall in order to ensure that they were still sufficient to support the roof. This inspection was carried out by local contractors Landsdeane Construction, in conjunction with Tony Madden Architects in the latter part of 2008. The engineers also recommended that more indepth commentary into the subsoils be obtained, and subsequently Geotechnical Consultants from Brisbane were invited to provide this information.

The additional Geotechnical report verified that the subsoils were of a highly reactive nature, and indicated that a Century of settlement had probably compacted these soils by as much as could be expected. This confirmed the Structural Engineers’ suggestions that measures be identified and implemented to control the moisture that could get to the foundations so minimising any future movement.

It was therefore concluded, that by removing the existing semi-porous bitumen surface which presently partially circumnavigates the Cathedral, and replacing it with the totally impervious material of concrete, with integrated storm water management systems, and to surround the entire structure, this would represent a reasonable measure to achieve the stabalisation of the foundation. The only further alternative to guarantee the stability of the Cathedral would be to underpin the structure, at a cost mooted to be in the region of $33m. This figure was considered not feasible.

Consequently, stone mason Kent Roxborough from Brisbane was engaged to provide an estimate for the work to the sand stone structure, which was to include the reinstatement of the construction joint between the new and old section of the Cathedral, thereby relieving the stress of movement between the two. In addition, his work will include the repointing to the entire exterior of the building, repairs and maintenance of gutters and flashings, as well as a myriad of other running repairs. Replacement of the deteriorated stones at the base of the north eastern tower is also included in the scope of work.

A contractor will also be engaged to remove the existing bitumen surface and replace and extend the perimeter with a concrete material, with integrated storm water management systems. At this time, the ground level surrounding the structure will be returned to its original level, thereby reinstating the partially buried front step. This work will be carried out in conjunction with an arborist, who is to provide advice on how to best provide for the health and well being of the trees which flank the Cathedral on either side.

Other work will focus on the replacement of the protective grilles to the Stained Glass Windows, which presently expand and contract at a greater rate than the stone surrounding them with insufficient tolerance, and also leach rust onto the stone sills below. The pipe organ is a matter of restoration, and it’s thought if restored, would be the one of very few of its kind in the country and lend to celebrations and events in the Cathedral.

The renovation work also includes the installation of a series of stainless steel pins around the building to form datums, which will be used in the future to measure any movement in the structure on an annual basis. It is anticipated that the works will take between twelve and twenty-four months and as funding becomes available. The anticipated structural renovation outcomes and perimeter remodeling will also provide the necessary platform for ongoing periodic maintenance schedule and facilitate structural monitoring for the benefit of generations to come.

Gavin Richardson - Property Manager