It was a small octagonal mud-brick church, hastily built on land donated by Governor James Stirling on his Woodbridge estate, next to where Guildford Grammar School now stands.

Governor Stirling laid the foundation stone on 6 September 1836,[2] and it was opened a few months later before it was finished.

The second St Matthew's was built on the present site in Stirling Square and was consecrated by Bishop Hale on 21 September 1860.

[5] Parishioners immediately started a rebuilding programme and the present church of St Matthew was opened on 9 June 1873,[6][7] and consecrated on 15 October 1873.

This organ had been built for St. John's Church, Fremantle, but became redundant when they purchased a larger instrument.