In 1838 a temporary chapel had been erected in Cameron Street for the local Catholic community, which up to that moment had no fixed place of worship in the city.

[1] In the same year[2] the government granted the Catholics a site in Margaret Street, "at the foot of the Cataract Hill", for the construction of a permanent building, a chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph.

[3] The plans for the new church were drawn by the Tasmanian architect Henry Hunter, and the foundation stone was laid on 15 September 1864 by Bishop Willson.

[6] By October 1866 the nave and two aisles had already been built, and on 7 November the church was solemnly opened for religious purposes by Rev.

[2] Construction of the North section, encompassing the transept, sanctuary and sacristies, began several years later.