It's been six long years but the Cathedral doors to the city's busiest thoroughfare are now open for business.
The George Street entrance to St Andrew's Cathedral has been reopened to increase access for the steady stream of passing tourists and pedestrians. It was boarded up in 1999 to make way for major restoration work to the Cathedral.
And the Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen, couldn't be happier.
"For years St Andrew's Cathedral has been locked off to Sydney," Mr Jensen said. "We want to be open to the public, not closed."
Mr Jensen said the city's hub was on George Street and the heritage-listed building needed to reflect that.
The renovations cost $20,000, which included soundproofing the doors from traffic noise.
"Time will tell whether it was right or wrong decision," said Neil Cameron, a member of the Cathedral Chapter. "We would always like to see a large increase in numbers. We don't care where they come from, as long as they get in."
St Andrew's was founded in 1819 and is Australia's oldest Cathedral. It was expanded under Archbishop Mowll in 1938 and major renovation work to the interior and exterior was undertaken in 1999/2000.
The traditional entrance is still the western side of the building, opposite St Andrew's House, which will continue to be used for ceremonial purposes including weddings, State funerals and days of mourning such as the special service held on Sunday for the tsunami victims. The north entrance, facing the Sydney Town Hall, has become popular for parishioners exiting from trains and cars.
Mr Jensen says all churches need to have points of entry that are easy to find.
"We all know we've got to be welcoming to all humanity," Mr Jensen said. "It's not about just sticking a sign [out the front]. We need to make our buildings and services welcoming to people."
