[1] The new settlement of Cleveland Bay, established in 1864 at the mouth of Ross Creek, was part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brisbane.

The first priest in the northern section of the new diocese was Fr William McGinty who established a parish centred on Bowen.

Fr McGinty first visited Townsville (Cleveland Bay) in 1866 where he performed baptisms on 16 February and said Mass on the following Sunday in the Court and Customs House on Melton Hill.

This church, which was the first constructed in the town, was destroyed by flood waters which swept the building out to sea during torrential rain in 1892.

A great deal of work was done to establish Catholic institutions, religious orders and new parishes in the north Queensland portion of the Rockhampton Diocese.

The new church was opened on Sunday 10 July 1921 by Bishop Shiel with Archbishop of Brisbane James Duhig in attendance.

[1] The southeast elevation is a symmetrical composition with a central pointed arch entrance with timber doors flanked by lancet shaped niches.

The windows to the side aisles are separated by buttresses, and consist of triple leadlight lancets with lower casements sections set in a pointed arch composition.

[1] The rear of the building has less decorative mouldings with buttresses separating two leadlight windows, each of which consists of tall paired lancets either side of the central altar.

The side aisles are separated from the nave by concrete columns surmounted by pointed arches with expressed mouldings.

[1] The church has a highly decorative carved timber altar, set against the rear wall on a raised platform, comprising a tiered arrangement of pointed arch niches housing statues and surmounted by a crucifix.

[1] The Fryer Street boundary is fenced with concrete pillars with pointed arch recesses and metal palisade panels.

[1] St Joseph's Church was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 26 November 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.

St Joseph's Church exhibits the principal characteristics of a Roman basilica, is of aesthetic significance and makes an important contribution to the Fryer Street streetscape.

[1] The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.