The Cathedral was designed by Francis William Petre (1847-1918), who also designed the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Christchurch and Sacred Heart Cathedral in Wellington. Construction of the Gothic style Cathedral started in 1878, during the episcopacy of Bishop Patrick Moran. It was used for its first church service in February 1886, and was completed in its unfinished state in May 1886. The original design, however,was for a much larger building, with a tall spire over the transept.