Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hobart

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hobart is the Catholic Church's Latin-rite ecclesiastical territory for Tasmania, Australia. It is centred in Hobart and encompasses Catholic parishes, schools, clergy, religious communities and pastoral institutions across the island state. The archdiocese is directly subject to the Holy See rather than being part of a higher Australian metropolitan province. St Mary's Cathedral in Hobart serves as its cathedral and the seat of its archbishop. The territory developed from the wider Catholic jurisdiction that initially administered New Holland and Van Diemen's Land. On 5 April 1842, the Apostolic Vicariate of Hobart was established. It was elevated to diocesan status shortly afterwards, becoming the Diocese of Hobart on 22 April 1842. The diocese was raised to the rank of archdiocese on 3 August 1888, giving it its present ecclesiastical status. The archdiocese's work is religious and pastoral rather than commercial. Its activities include the celebration of Catholic worship and sacraments, parish administration, religious education, Catholic schooling, care for clergy and support for religious communities. Its territory includes Southern Tasmania, Northern Tasmania and North Western Tasmania. Notre Dame Priory, a Benedictine monastery in Colebrook founded in 2017, is also associated with the archdiocese. The archdiocese has experienced periods of institutional controversy. Former clergy and religious personnel connected with Marist College in Burnie were convicted in separate proceedings involving sexual offences against young people dating from the 1960s and 1970s. These cases form part of the wider history of child sexual abuse in Australian Catholic institutions and have affected public confidence in church governance and safeguarding. The archdiocese has also been involved in a public dispute over its 2015 distribution of the booklet Don't Mess with Marriage in Tasmanian Catholic schools. The material expressed opposition to same-sex marriage and prompted a complaint to Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner. The complaint was later withdrawn, but the episode generated debate about religious freedom, freedom of expression, discrimination law and the role of church institutions in public policy discussions. Anthony Ireland was installed as Archbishop of Hobart on 12 August 2025. The archdiocese therefore remains an active Catholic institution with a statewide pastoral footprint, a long history dating from the colonial period and responsibilities extending across worship, education, parish life and religious formation.

The Archdiocese of Hobart traces its institutional history to the Catholic administration established for the British colonies then known as New Holland and Van Diemen's Land. Before the creation of a separate Hobart jurisdiction, Catholic pastoral oversight in the region was exercised through the Apostolic Vicariate of New Holland and Van Diemen's Land. As the Catholic population and institutional presence in Van Diemen's Land developed, the Holy See created a distinct Apostolic Vicariate of Hobart on 5 April 1842. The new vicariate had a short transitional existence. On 22 April 1842 it was elevated to the status of the Diocese of Hobart. This change placed the Tasmanian Catholic territory within the ordinary diocesan structure of the Latin Church. The diocese subsequently developed its network of parishes, schools, clergy and religious institutions across the island. St Mary's Cathedral in Hobart became the principal church and the seat of the local bishop. On 3 August 1888, the Diocese of Hobart was elevated to an archdiocese. The change marked the territory's higher ecclesiastical rank within the Catholic Church, although the archdiocese is directly subject to the Holy See. Its pastoral area covers the whole of Tasmania, including the southern, northern and north-western parts of the state. The archdiocese's responsibilities have included parish ministry, sacramental life, Catholic education, religious instruction and support for religious communities. The archdiocese's institutional landscape includes St Mary's Cathedral and a statewide parish structure, as well as Catholic schools and other church bodies. Notre Dame Priory, a Benedictine monastery at Colebrook founded in 2017, is part of the archdiocesan environment. The archdiocese has also produced clergy who later received episcopal appointments elsewhere, including Anthony Joseph Burgess, appointed coadjutor bishop of Wewak in Papua New Guinea in 2000, and Geoffrey Hylton Jarrett, appointed coadjutor bishop of Lismore in 2000. Modern public discussion of the archdiocese has included the handling and legacy of child sexual abuse connected with Catholic institutions. In 2007, Gregory Ferguson, a Marist priest, was sentenced for offences against boys connected with Marist College in Burnie, and received an additional sentence later that year concerning another victim. In 2008, former priest Roger Michael Bellemore was convicted on three counts involving a young person under 17 in connection with conduct during the 1960s and 1970s. These cases sit within the broader Australian history of abuse in religious institutions and have contributed to scrutiny of church safeguarding and accountability. Another prominent public controversy arose in 2015 during the debate over same-sex marriage. Catholic schools in Tasmania distributed Don't Mess with Marriage, a booklet presenting marriage as a union between a man and a woman and arguing against legal change. Martine Delaney, a transgender activist and Federal Greens candidate, complained to Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner. Archbishop Julian Porteous described the complaint as an attempt to silence the Church, while the matter prompted wider arguments about anti-discrimination law, religious freedom, freedom of expression and tolerance. The complaint was ultimately withdrawn. The archdiocese continues as an active Catholic jurisdiction. Anthony Ireland was installed as Archbishop of Hobart on 12 August 2025, succeeding earlier bishops and archbishops in leading the Tasmanian Catholic community.

• 2025

  Anthony Ireland installed as archbishop

  [1]Archdiocese of Hobarten.wikipedia.org

  Anthony Ireland was installed as Archbishop of Hobart on 12 August 2025.

• 2017

  Notre Dame Priory founded

  [1]Archdiocese of Hobarten.wikipedia.org

  Notre Dame Priory, a Benedictine monastery at Colebrook in Tasmania, was founded and became part of the archdiocesan religious landscape.

• 1888

  Diocese elevated to archdiocese

  [1]Archdiocese of Hobarten.wikipedia.org

  The Diocese of Hobart became the Archdiocese of Hobart on 3 August 1888.

• 1842

  Apostolic Vicariate of Hobart established

  [1]Archdiocese of Hobarten.wikipedia.org

  The Apostolic Vicariate of Hobart was established on 5 April 1842 as a separate Catholic jurisdiction for the region.

• 1842

  Vicariate elevated to Diocese of Hobart

  [1]Archdiocese of Hobarten.wikipedia.org

  On 22 April 1842, the vicariate was elevated to diocesan status and became the Diocese of Hobart.

A statewide Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction serving Tasmania through parishes, schools, clergy, religious communities and pastoral institutions.

• Cathedral

  St Mary's Cathedral

  St Mary's Cathedral in Hobart is the cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Hobart and the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Hobart. It functions as a principal centre for liturgy, archdiocesan ceremonies and public Catholic worship in Tasmania.

• Monastery · 2017

  Notre Dame Priory

  Notre Dame Priory is a Benedictine monastery in Colebrook, Tasmania. Founded in 2017, it forms part of the religious and contemplative institutions associated with the Archdiocese of Hobart.

• 2015

  Complaint concerning same-sex marriage booklet

  A complaint to Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner followed the distribution of Don't Mess with Marriage in Catholic schools. The episode generated national and state-level discussion concerning discrimination law, religious freedom and freedom of expression before the complaint was withdrawn.

  Source

• 2008

  Roger Bellemore convicted of sexual offences

  Former priest Roger Michael Bellemore was found guilty on three counts involving a person under 17, concerning conduct during the 1960s and 1970s while he was associated with Marist College in Burnie.

  Source

• 2007

  Gregory Ferguson criminal convictions and sentences

  Gregory Ferguson, a Marist priest associated with Marist College in Burnie, was sentenced for sexual offences against boys dating from 1971. A further sentence was imposed later in 2007 in relation to a third boy.

  Source

Read more

• 2015Don't Mess with Marriage

  Tasmania, Australia

  Catholic schools across Tasmania distributed a booklet opposing changes to marriage law and presenting marriage as a heterosexual union between a man and a woman. The distribution reflected the archdiocese's public engagement in the same-sex marriage debate.

  Outcome. The distribution led to a complaint under Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 and a public dispute over religious expression and discrimination. The complaint was ultimately withdrawn.

  Source

• 2015

  Distribute Don't Mess with Marriage through Catholic schoolsStrategy

  Background

  During public debate over same-sex marriage, the archdiocese and Tasmanian Catholic education network circulated material describing marriage as a union between a man and a woman and arguing that legal change could affect children and family life.

  Action taken

  The booklet Don't Mess with Marriage was distributed in Catholic schools throughout Tasmania.

  Aftermath

  The distribution prompted an anti-discrimination complaint and a dispute involving Archbishop Julian Porteous. The complaint was later withdrawn, while debate continued about the boundaries of religious advocacy and anti-discrimination protections.

  Source

1. 1Archdiocese of Hobarten.wikipedia.org