St Patrick’s Basilica

“The Basilica is highly evocative of an Italianate landscape. Built on a plan of Lombard Romanesque style in 1908. It has architectural importance as a work of distinction by one of New Zealand’s most creative and competent architects” (Francis Petre). Features include a rose window. Basilica restoration project cost $650,000 in 2009.

The Hobday Organ (Hannah)

The last organ built by Arthur A. Hobday 1922. It is listed on the Australasian Heritage Organ Register. “The Hobday has an exceptionally lovely tone quality and is placed in a church that has excellent acoustics. To bring people closer to the angels of heaven” (Raymond E White).

St Patrick’s church dates from 1877 – it was originally a wooden building seating approximately 200 people. There was also a convent built in 1890 with 6 Sisters of St Joseph and a school with approximately 150 pupils.

The foundation stone for the present church was laid in 1908 and the building completed and opened in 1909.

The Lombard Romanesque basilica was designed by Francis Petre and is recognised with a Category 1 (Historic Places Trust) registration.

Petre designed 70 churches throughout New Zealand including Wellington’s Sacred Heart Cathedral in 1901,  Cathedral of The Blessed Sacrament Christchurch in 1904 and Timaru’s Basilica of The Sacred Heart 1910.

Oblong with a semi-circular apse accentuating Petre’s masterful use of light, the basilica was built of concrete, Oamaru stone and bricks from Quinn’s kiln in Makikihi.

Interior features include Carrera marble from Tuscany and 3 bells in the belltower cast in Belgium and donated by the Quinn family of Makikihi, installed in 1913. The roof tiles were made in Marseilles.

The dominating feature of the basilica is the belfry tower, crowned with an 8 sided copper-sheathed dome with a cross on top.

The sanctuary at the south end of the building is highlighted by 7 stained glass windows set to catch the morning sun.

The Hobday organ was built in 1922 by Arthur A Hobday and was fully restored in 1996.

In 2005 the first stage of renovation of the basilica commenced and continued over a period of 9 years at a cost of nearly $650.000. The greatest cost was  earthquake strengthening, the attachment of the roof to the walls and strengthening of the bell tower.