The First Church
The first Church to occupy the Miller-Ridge Streets site was described as a "neat temporary church got up in a few weeks". The church was of wood construction and was visited by Archbishop Polding in March 1856. This temporary church was not named but it was aligned east-west with the main entrance at the east end from Miller Street which is the alignment of the present church.
The Second Church
When the second parish priest, Dean Father John Kenny arrived in 1867, he quickly set about providing a new permanent church for the 450 Catholics of the North Shore. On 28 June 1868, Archbishop Polding opened and dedicated this new church to the Mother of God under the title of "Saint Mary Star of the Sea". Built to accommodate 150 people seated, the church was of Gothic design with gabled roof and pointed arch stained glass windows. The alignment of this church however reversed that of the temporary church so that the main entrance faced the present primary school and the altar and the rear wall of the church has its back to Miller street.
Additions and Alterations
By 1893, the Parish Priest of the time, Father Brennan SJ decided that with some 2,000 Catholics attending the church, some major alterations would have to be made. On 6 October 1895, Cardinal Moran blessed the cornerstone for these new alterations which almost doubled the size of the stone Gothic Church. These additions and alterations were dedicated by Cardinal Moran on 7 September 1896.
The Present Church
It was this church of 1896 that was pulled down, beginning on 12 July 1937. The Gothic Church of Saint Mary Star of the Sea was to be replaced by the present Mary Immaculate Church. The present church was completed and officially opened by Archbishop Gilroy on 4 December 1938, the Sunday prior to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The parish priest at the time, Fr O’Mara SJ was also justly proud in 1938 for it was the year that marked the Diamond Jubilee of the arrival of the Jesuits at the parish of North Sydney.
The present church does have some reminders of the earlier church. The outer stone wall of the church is the stone used for the older church. The Shrine of Our Lady of the Way contains a floor of marble taken from the old sanctuary, while the stained glass windows in the Shrine are from the old church. The side aisle pews also date from the older church of Father Brennan (1893) while at the back of the side aisles the very old pews date from Dean Kenny’s time (1867). The foundation stone for the present St Mary’s Church was laid and dedicated by the then Co-adjutor Archbishop of Sydney, Dr N.T. Gilroy on 21 November 1937. This stone can be seen underneath the east end of the confessional window on the left hand side as one enters the church.