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© Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga 2026.
 
St Mary's Basilica (Catholic)

79 Tyne Street, INVERCARGILL

Private

Historic Place Category 1

List No. 392

Quick links:
List GalleryLocationDetails
Completed in 1905 to the design of the prominent late Victorian architect F.W. Petre of Dunedin, St Mary's Basilica is one of the more notable landmarks of the city. Less grand in scale and ornament than some of his churches it is nevertheless a striking building with the splendid dome more than 37m above the floor. The design consists of a Greek cross forming a very compact structure dominated by the large copper sheathed dome. Built of red brick with cream coloured arched windows, quoins and cornices, it has a crisp exterior. The fine interior has stained glass windows in the dome.

As townscape the impressive architecture of St Mary's Basilica makes a notable contribution to the city.
St Mary's Basilica (Catholic). Image courtesy of www.flickr.com | Shellie Evans - flyingkiwigirl | 01/01/2014 | Shellie Evans
St Mary's Basilica (Catholic), Invercargill. CC BY Licence | Heather Cooper | 04/02/2024 | Heather Cooper
St Mary's Basilica (Catholic), Invercargill. CC BY Licence | Heather Cooper | 04/02/2024 | Heather Cooper
St Mary's Basilica (Catholic), Invercargill. CC BY Licence | Nicky McEntee | 24/02/2024 | Nicky McEntee
St Mary's Basilica (Catholic). Image courtesy of www.flickr.com | Shellie Evans - flyingkiwigirl | 01/01/2014 | Shellie Evans
St Mary's Basilica (Catholic), Invercargill. CC BY Licence | Heather Cooper | 04/02/2024 | Heather Cooper
St Mary's Basilica (Catholic), Invercargill. CC BY Licence | Heather Cooper | 04/02/2024 | Heather Cooper
St Mary's Basilica (Catholic), Invercargill. CC BY Licence | Nicky McEntee | 24/02/2024 | Nicky McEntee

List Entry Information

Overview

Status
Listed

List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1

Access
Private/No Public Access

List Number
392

Date Entered
22nd November 1984

Date of Effect
22nd November 1984

City/District Council
Invercargill City

Region
Southland Region

Legal description

Secs 2/3 Blk XVI Invercargill Town

Detailed List Entry

Construction Professional

Name

Petre, Francis William

Type

Architect

Biography

Petre (1847-1918) was born in Lower Hutt. He was the son of the Hon. Henry William Petre and grandson of the eleventh Baron Petre, Chairman of the second New Zealand Company. Petre trained in London as a naval architect, engineer, and architect, returning to New Zealand in 1872. During the next three years he was employed by Brogden and Sons, English railway contractors, superintending the construction of the Dunedin-Clutha and the Blenheim-Picton railways. He set up office in Dunedin in 1875 as an architect and civil engineer. He designed a house for Judge Chapman (1875), followed by 'Cargill's Castle' (1876) for E B Cargill and then St Dominic's Priory (1877), all in mass concrete. It is for his church designs and for his pioneering use of concrete that Petre is most recognised. His church buildings include St Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin (1878-86), Sacred Heart Basilica (now Cathedral of the Sacred Heart), Wellington (1901), St Patrick's Basilica, Oamaru, (1894 and 1903) and the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch, (1904-05), which is the outstanding achievement of his career. Petre's commercial buildings include the Guardian Royal Exchange Assurance Building (1881-82) and Pheonix House (now Airport House, c.1885), both in Dunedin.

Construction Details

Start Year

1905

Type

Original Construction

Reference

Report Written By

This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Otago/Southland Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions. This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. The following text is the original citation considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Information in square brackets indicate modifications made after the paper was considered by the NZHPT Board.

Further Information

Current Usages

Uses: Religion

Specific Usage: Church

Former Usages

General Usage:: Religion

Specific Usage: Church

Themes

Web Links

Overview

Status

Listed

List Entry Status

Historic Place Category 1

Access

Private/No Public Access

List Number

392

Date Entered

22nd November 1984

Date of Effect

22nd November 1984

City/District Council

Invercargill City

Region

Southland Region

Legal description

Secs 2/3 Blk XVI Invercargill Town

Status

Listed

List Entry Status

Historic Place Category 1

Access

Private/No Public Access

List Number

392

Date Entered

22nd November 1984

Date of Effect

22nd November 1984

City/District Council

Invercargill City

Region

Southland Region

Legal description

Secs 2/3 Blk XVI Invercargill Town

Construction Information

Construction Professional

Name

Petre, Francis William

Type

Architect

Biography

Petre (1847-1918) was born in Lower Hutt. He was the son of the Hon. Henry William Petre and grandson of the eleventh Baron Petre, Chairman of the second New Zealand Company. Petre trained in London as a naval architect, engineer, and architect, returning to New Zealand in 1872. During the next three years he was employed by Brogden and Sons, English railway contractors, superintending the construction of the Dunedin-Clutha and the Blenheim-Picton railways. He set up office in Dunedin in 1875 as an architect and civil engineer. He designed a house for Judge Chapman (1875), followed by 'Cargill's Castle' (1876) for E B Cargill and then St Dominic's Priory (1877), all in mass concrete. It is for his church designs and for his pioneering use of concrete that Petre is most recognised. His church buildings include St Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin (1878-86), Sacred Heart Basilica (now Cathedral of the Sacred Heart), Wellington (1901), St Patrick's Basilica, Oamaru, (1894 and 1903) and the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch, (1904-05), which is the outstanding achievement of his career. Petre's commercial buildings include the Guardian Royal Exchange Assurance Building (1881-82) and Pheonix House (now Airport House, c.1885), both in Dunedin.

Construction Details

Start Year

1905

Type

Original Construction

Construction Professional

Name

Petre, Francis William

Type

Architect

Biography

Petre (1847-1918) was born in Lower Hutt. He was the son of the Hon. Henry William Petre and grandson of the eleventh Baron Petre, Chairman of the second New Zealand Company. Petre trained in London as a naval architect, engineer, and architect, returning to New Zealand in 1872. During the next three years he was employed by Brogden and Sons, English railway contractors, superintending the construction of the Dunedin-Clutha and the Blenheim-Picton railways. He set up office in Dunedin in 1875 as an architect and civil engineer. He designed a house for Judge Chapman (1875), followed by 'Cargill's Castle' (1876) for E B Cargill and then St Dominic's Priory (1877), all in mass concrete. It is for his church designs and for his pioneering use of concrete that Petre is most recognised. His church buildings include St Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin (1878-86), Sacred Heart Basilica (now Cathedral of the Sacred Heart), Wellington (1901), St Patrick's Basilica, Oamaru, (1894 and 1903) and the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch, (1904-05), which is the outstanding achievement of his career. Petre's commercial buildings include the Guardian Royal Exchange Assurance Building (1881-82) and Pheonix House (now Airport House, c.1885), both in Dunedin.

Construction Details

Start Year

1905

Type

Original Construction

Reference

Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau

Other Information

This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Otago/Southland Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions. This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. The following text is the original citation considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Information in square brackets indicate modifications made after the paper was considered by the NZHPT Board.

Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau

Other Information

This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Otago/Southland Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions. This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. The following text is the original citation considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Information in square brackets indicate modifications made after the paper was considered by the NZHPT Board.

Further Information

Current Usages

Uses: Religion

Specific Usage: Church

Former Usages

General Usage: Religion

Specific Usage: Church

Current Usages

Uses: Religion

Specific Usage: Church

Former Usages

General Usage: Religion

Specific Usage: Church

Location

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