Browse more in Cairns / Port Douglas, Queensland

St Mary's By The Sea

Name: St Mary's By The Sea
Address: Dixie Street, Port Douglas QLD 4877, Australia, Cairns / Port Douglas, Queensland, 4877, AU
Telephone: 0418 456 880

Cairns / Port Douglas, Queensland Capacity: Up to 100

On this page

About

Overview & Vibe

A white timber chapel built in 1880, standing among palms beside the beach in the middle of Port Douglas. One of the oldest buildings in the town, and now a non-denominational chapel used mostly for weddings.

Setting & Style

Inside are traditional wooden pews, stained glass, and — behind the altar — a huge glass window looking out to the beach, the Coral Sea and rainforest-clad mountains. The church bell can be rung as you leave.

Ideal For

Couples who want a ceremony with a view rather than a whole-day venue, and who are happy to walk to a reception afterwards.

The Need-to-Knows

This is a ceremony venue only. There is no reception space, no catering and no bar — the chapel itself points you onward: “When planning your reception after your ceremony at St Mary's, there are plenty to choose from.”
Capacity is 100, and the chapel is open seven days a week.
Air-conditioned, which in Tropical North Queensland is not a small thing. Wheelchair access is available with advance notice.
No pricing is published — booking is direct, by email.
It is still a working chapel: a Uniting Church service runs Sundays at 11am, and it also hosts christenings, funerals and memorials.

Standout Feature

An 1880 chapel where the altar window frames the Coral Sea.

Contact

Visit website

Call

Website

stmarysbythesea.com.au

Phone

0418 456 880

Address

Dixie Street, Port Douglas QLD 4877, Australia

Amenities

Historic 1880 Chapel
Non Denominational
Glass Altar Window
Coral Sea Views
Stained Glass Windows
Traditional Wooden Pews
Church Bell
Air Conditioned
Wheelchair Access With Advance Notice
Open Seven Days
Beachfront Location
Walking Distance To Restaurants
Walking Distance To Accommodation
Direct Booking

Ceremony Setting

indoor
chapel
beachfront

Dietary Options Supported

No details available.

Nearby Landmarks

Port Douglas – The chapel is in the centre of town
Four Mile Beach – The beach in front of the chapel
Dickson Inlet – Beside the town
Sugar Wharf – Reception venue beside the beach in front of the chapel
Macrossan Street – The town's main street, a short walk
Coral Sea – The view from the altar window
Daintree Rainforest – North of Port Douglas
Cairns – About an hour's drive south

On Site Accommodation

No details available.

Price Notes

THIS IS A CEREMONY-ONLY VENUE AND THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACT ABOUT IT. There is no reception space, no catering, no bar and no accommodation. The chapel says so itself and points couples elsewhere: 'When planning your reception after your ceremony at St Mary's, there are plenty to choose from. Many restaurants close to the church cater to wedding receptions. Additionally the popular "sugar wharf" reception venue is right beside the beach in front of St Mary's By The Sea.' price_per_head, dietary_options_supported and onsite_accommodation are all NULL because the venue does not offer any of them - not because they are unpublished.
NO PRICING IS PUBLISHED. Booking is direct and by email: 'To enquire about holding your wedding ceremony and to book direct with St Mary's By The Sea, click here to send an email to Port Douglas Weddings.' No hire fee, hourly rate or package figure appears anywhere, and the domain serves no PDF.
THE VENUE PUBLISHES NO STREET ADDRESS. Its site gives only 'Port Douglas', 'in the heart of town' and 'right beside a picturesque beach'. A maps lookup was used, as permitted for addresses - BUT DIRECTORY SOURCES DISAGREE ON THE STREET NUMBER, one giving 6 Dixie Street and another 8 Dixie Street. Neither has been asserted: the address is recorded as Dixie Street, Port Douglas QLD 4877 without a number, and the maps URL searches by name. A couple should confirm the number when booking.
CONTACT DETAILS ALSO DIFFER BETWEEN THE SITE AND DIRECTORIES. The chapel's own site publishes 0418 456 880 and info@portdouglasweddings.com.au; directories list a different mobile and a bookings@stmarysbythesea.com.au address. ONLY THE SITE'S OWN DETAILS ARE STORED (rule 2).
IT REMAINS A WORKING CHAPEL WITH OTHER USES: 'For those interested in attending a service, a weekly Sunday service is held at 11am by the Uniting Church at St Mary's By The Sea.' And: 'Christenings, funerals & memorial services may also be held at St Mary's By The Sea.' A Sunday ceremony would need to work around the 11am service.
ACCESSIBILITY IS CONDITIONAL AND THE VENUE STATES IT PLAINLY: 'St Mary's is also air-conditioned and wheel chair access is available (advance notice is required).' The advance-notice condition is the venue's own wording.
THE SITE ITSELF IS UNFINISHED - its footer reads 'About This Site: Currently being developed' - so more detail may appear later. The copyright notice reads 2026, so it is actively maintained.
SUPPLIERS ARE NOT PROVIDED, ONLY REFERRED: 'Additional wedding services are available for your Port Douglas wedding. Wedding flowers, Celebrants, Hair and Makeup, Video, Photography, Wedding Planners, Reception venue and Cocktails Bars are all available from local Port Douglas suppliers. Please email for details.' Everything beyond the room is a separate arrangement.
NOTE ON THE REGION: Cairns / Port Douglas is unusually chain-heavy. The re-discovery search that surfaced this venue also returned Sheraton Grand Mirage, Ramada, Peppers Beach Club and Pullman Sea Temple - all excluded under rule 8.