St Mary's by the Sea

St Mary’s chapel is the jewel in the crown of Port Douglas. Situated within the foreshore parklands, St Mary’s is a popular wedding venue. The first Catholic Church was built on a site in Murphy Street in 1881, replacing an 1878 chapel. This church was destroyed in the March 1911 cyclone.The Port Douglas community, with help from the Mossman community, fundraised for a new church. The foundation stone was laid in December 1913 and the church completed in 1914. Port Douglas declined in the 1920s although it remained a sugar port until the late 1950s. The town was loved as a quiet fishing village in the 60s and 70s, but evolved into an international tourism destination in the 1980s. By this time St Mary’s was in poor condition and could no longer meet the needs of the community. In 1987, the Catholic Church sold the land to finance a new church. The Port Douglas Restoration Society was formed to raise funds and manage the relocation of the church. After restoration in 1989, St Mary’s by the Sea serves as a non-denominational church for weddings and other special events.