The original St Mary's Anglican church was built of native timbers on donated land on the Onkaparinga Road midway between the Sturt and Brownhill Creek crossings.
St John's church on Halifax Street, another contender for second place,[3] however, did not hold its first service until 24 October 1841.
[4] The name was chosen by Daw in recognition of his home parish St Mary Abbots of Kensington.
[5] This structure was always intended to be temporary, and the foundation stone for a new building was laid at the present site, some 200 metres south of the original, on 27 October 1846 by Miss Fanny Conway.
That same year transepts, chancel, bell tower (later raised to a height of 36 feet (11 m)), vestry and porch were added.