Its size and appearance make it one of the most important historic buildings of Timaru and of the South Canterbury region.

The Basilica's twin towers and copper cupola are highly visible features of the Timaru skyline, especially from the south.

The inspiration for the design of the Basilica came during a visit to the United States by the Parish Priest Father John Tubman.

His brother was a priest at the Catholic cathedral of Reno, Nevada, and Fr Tubman was impressed with the design of that church.

So it is that the exterior of the Timaru Basilica bears resemblance to the Saint Thomas Aquinas Cathedral in Reno, Nevada.

Tubman thought the plan for the proposed building too ambitious, he was encouraged to continue the large project by the Bishop of Christchurch, John Grimes S.M.

There were many generous benefactors present, including the Mayor and Member of Parliament James Craigie, who gave ten pounds.

John Cassidy of the Levels gave the foundation stone and the silver trowel used in the ceremony.

The wooden church had burnt down in 1910 and Mass had been celebrated in the boys’ school until the Basilica was ready.

The building cost £23,000 and was practically completed and paid for by the time of the opening and consecration, on Rosary Sunday, 1 October 1911.

Dignitaries who attended the consecration included Archbishop Francis Redwood of Wellington, and the three other New Zealand bishops.

He was a close friend of many South Canterbury people, especially Archdeacon Harper, later Anglican Bishop of Christchurch, and of Henry Orbell.

[4] Bart Moriarty, the surveyor contracted to supervise the construction of the basilica, later became a well-recognised builder in Melbourne, where he built a village for investment and has a street named after him.

Moriarty simply replicated the Petre design in Timaru, although in Paddington only the sanctuary, transepts and sacristies were built.

[5] At the head of the nave is the internal dome, supported by Ionic columns, and buttressed by external walls.

There is a walk-round base from which, on a clear day, can be seen Aoraki / Mount Cook, and with the aid of binoculars, Temuka and Geraldine.

[4] Two small domes surmount the towers that flank the façade and there is another internal dame above the sanctuary centring the apse of the basilica.

Access to the campanile is by the south tower, a cast iron spiral staircase leading from the choir loft.

It is of Italian renaissance design, having a circular tabernacle with a brass sliding door, which is surmounted by a mosaic dome.

[4] Of particular beauty, behind the altar, is the semi-circular colonnade of 13 graceful Ionic columns representing St Paul and the Twelve Apostles.

[3] The floor of the sanctuary is decorated with mosaic tiles while the windows are adorned with attractive stained glass.

[4] Situated immediately under the north tower, the baptistry houses a beautiful marble and brass font.

The original roofing tiles from Marseille, France, were transported to New Zealand as ship's ballast.

Hampton's studio of Christchurch was commissioned to make the Stations of the Cross, which were solemnly erected on 26 September 1967.

Internal evidence suggests that this organ is a rebuild (and enlargement) of a previous instrument, made in England in 1848 and sent to Sydney, New South Wales.

The Hobday case has been preserved in original form, and displays design characteristics typical of his style and also the console has been retained and includes original fittings such as stopknobs, stop labels, keyboards, keyboard cheeks, pedal-board and organ bench.

In that restoration the front pipes were altered in colour from silver to gold, and springs were added to the pneumatic actions to improve the organ's responsiveness.