Our Lady of Victories, Bowen Hills

Our Lady of Victories holds State significance as Queensland’s principal Catholic memorial to those who served in the First World War. Conceived as both a peace offering to God and a perpetual tribute, the church houses a remarkable honour roll naming 1,824 Catholic servicemen and women — including two nurses — from Queensland and northern New South Wales who lost their lives in the conflict.

Opened in 1925 and often referred to as the White Temple of Peace, the church was Brisbane’s first to feature an electrically illuminated cross atop its tower. Designed in the distinctive Spanish Mission style — rare in Australia at the time — it remains architecturally striking. The leadlight windows incorporate powerful symbolism, including the rising sun emblem of the Australian Imperial Force.

The church was commissioned by Father Edward Sarsfield Barry, one of the longest-serving Catholic chaplains on the Western Front, and an early member of the Anzac Day Commemoration Committee. His vision for a sacred space devoted to peace, remembrance, and community still resonates today.

The parish precinct has seen many chapters. Cintra House once served as the parish convent, while the adjacent primary school operated until 1965. In the post-war years, Our Lady of Victories became a cultural and spiritual haven for Polish immigrants, reflecting Brisbane’s evolving community.

In 1973, the church welcomed a significant visitor — Cardinal Karol Wojtyła (later Pope John Paul II) — who stayed for several days with parish priest Fr Cassian Wolak, himself a survivor of Auschwitz and Dachau.

Today, the church continues to be a vibrant place of worship, uniting both English and Polish-speaking parishioners in a shared legacy of remembrance, faith, and resilience.