Parish History | St Peter and Paul's Catholic Church

Our Parish Church – Saints Peter and Paul's, Bulimba

Saints Peter and Paul's Catholic Church, also known as the Father Canali Memorial Church, has stood as a centre of faith and community in Bulimba since 1926. Designed by renowned Toowoomba architect Harry J. Marks and opened by Archbishop Duhig, it is the third in a series of distinctive churches built during a time of growth for the Catholic Church in Brisbane.

Church Site Blueprint (1926)

An original architectural plan showing the layout of the church, school, and parish grounds.

Archbishop Duhig with Parishioners

A formal gathering of clergy, altar servers, and parishioners, including Archbishop Duhig, outside the original church in Bulimba.

Early Parish History

Catholic life in Bulimba began well before a church was built, with early Masses held across the river or in local homes. In 1896, following a meeting with Archbishop Dunne, land was gifted by the Hon. A.J. Thynne MLC for a church to be built on Riding Road. The first church, a timber Gothic structure designed by W.A. Caldwell, was opened later that year. Before Bulimba became a parish in 1915, it was served by visiting priests, including the much-loved Father Canali. Father A.J. O’Keeffe became the first parish priest upon the parish’s official establishment.

Growth and the New Church

As Bulimba and its Catholic community grew, the need for a larger church became clear. A new brick church was proposed in honour of Father Canali, a beloved priest and civil engineer who had served the parish for over a decade. Designed by H.J. Marks, the church’s foundation stone was laid by Archbishop Duhig in 1926 and officially opened later that year on 12 December. It was dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul and named the Father Canali Memorial Church.

Bulimba’s First Church (1896)

A timber Gothic-style church that served the Bulimba parish before the 1926 rebuild.

Saints Peter and Paul’s Church Today

A Romanesque-style brick church with a grand façade, restored in 2015 to preserve its heritage.

Church Architecture

Set high above Riding Road, Saints Peter and Paul’s is a Romanesque-style brick church featuring classical elements, a gabled roof, and a prominent three-tiered façade with a pediment and cross. Notable features include circular clerestory windows, arched leadlight windows, and detailed brickwork. At the front, statue-topped piers honour Saints Peter and Paul, the parish’s patrons. Inside, the church is warm and dignified, with arcades, rendered detailing, and a raised sanctuary. A major restoration in 2015 preserved its heritage while adapting it for contemporary liturgical use.

Source: Brisbane City Council – Local Heritage Places (Saints Peter and Paul's Catholic Church, Bulimba).