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Dictionary of Sydney

The Dictionary of Sydney
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Floor in the crypt of St Mary's Cathedral 2014

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

Floor in the crypt of St Mary's Cathedral 2014

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Crypt of St Mary's Cathedral

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Stacey, Mike

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Irish

Italians

Religious building

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Crypt of St Mary's Cathedral

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Crypt in the basement of St Mary's Cathedral Basilica, built to house the remains of Archbishop Kelly after his death. The crypt is highlighted by the terrazzo floor created by the Melocco Brothers in 1934. Inlayed with a Celtic Cross and medallions depicting the days of Creation inspired by the Book of Kells.

Melocco Brothers

The Melocco Brothers - Pietro (Peter), Antonio and Galliano - were the first tradesmen to practice mosaic craft in New South Wales and introduced terrazzo to Australia. The business was established in 1908 when Pietro Melocco arrived in Sydney from Italy, with his brothers joining him in Australia in 1910. From 1919 the business was located at 1 Booth Street, Annandale. The Melocco Bros carried out some of the finest decorative plaster work in many private homes, theatres and public buildings. Some of the firm's best known works include the crypt of St Mary's Cathedral, the Interstate Booking office at Central Railway Station and the Tasman map in the vestibule of the Mitchell Library building.

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St Mary's Cathedral

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St Mary's Cathedral is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney and the mother diocese of Australia, and remains the largest ecclesiastical building in the English Gothic style in the world.