Introduction

St Patrick's Cathedral has a rich and colourful history that dates back to the beginning of the town of Auckland in the early 1840's.

The Land - 1841

The land that the Cathedral sits upon is a local and national heritage treasure. The land provided the site for the first Catholic Church in Auckland and the first Cathedral church in New Zealand.

The British Flag was first hoisted in Auckland on 18 September, 1840. The signing of the 'Original Deed of Purchase of the Site for Auckland' followed on the 20th of October.

Bishop Pompallier made his first trip to the new capital in the new year. During his stay, on 10 May 1841, Pompallier applied to Governor Hobson for "a sufficient space of land for a church, dwelling house, and for a college, recreation ground for youth, and burial ground, for the use of the Roman Catholic public."

Within a month, on 1 June 1841, the Government granted a half-acre section on Wyndham Street for a church and priest's house, and two acres on Symonds Street for a burial ground "adjoining that of the Protestant Community." A land grant for a college and recreation ground would follow.