Lights of Christmas: St Josephs Cathedral Rockhampton

Illuminart Stories in Light have created a week long Christmas projection for the St Joseph’s Cathedral, a beautiful Australian Gothic Cathedral in Rockhampton Queensland. The free public event was held from 17 to 23 December each Christmas from 2017-2019 and each event has been attended by thousands from the area.

The beautiful production was recognised by a national award for Best Small Event at the Australian Event Awards in October 2018.

2017:  This award winning 20-minute show featured two parts – the first an eight-minute animation from the perennial Christmas favourite, The Nutcracker, and the second 14 Christmas-themed slides that filled every corner of the magnificent cathedral.

2018:  A stunning animation sharing the poem popularly known as “the night before Christmas” in elegant illustrated form, followed by Christmas-themed slides.

2019: An animation combining the elements of the traditional Dickens story known as “the Christmas Tree” with elements reprising previous years, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and the Nativity, embedded in the baubles of the Christmas tree.  This was followed by Christmas themed slides.

In 2020 the projections were unable to be held, due to social distancing rules of the Covid-19 Pandemic. However we were we were thrilled to be invited to create a virtual version instead which takes viewers on a captivating 360 degree journey throughout the Cathedral. See it here!

NOW, in Lights of Christmas 2023, the glow is returning to this beautiful cathedral! Join us to learn how the story continues to evolve with new many beautiful new elements bringing out glorious hidden layers while revealing mesmerising new scenes.

Head to the Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton’s gorgeous Lights of Christmas website for plenty of pictures and their contextual background on the project.

We have one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the country and we really wanted to make it a focal part of Christmas. Our show could not be projected onto any other building because it is designed specifically for the cathedral. It's incredible just how intricate the procedure is. We're very impressed with what illuminart has produced.

Rob Alexander, Principal, The Cathedral College