Richard Falkinger emigrated to Melbourne from Germany in 1959, his wife and children arriving a year later. He continued in his chosen profession, joining a firm of architects, and later setting up his own business. In 1970 he was asked by the Archbishop to reorder Melbourne's St Patrick's Cathedral, and he has since restored numerous churches and notable heritage buildings.
A noted architect, Falkinger has published architectural reports and written books on his architectural practice, including Ringing the Changes : New Liturgy Versus Heritage : Chronicles 1971 - 2000 (2002), and also writes fiction.