Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter
Send news

News tags

mental health  physical activity  earthquake  vacancies  families  public health  children  funding  poverty  health determinants  social  Community development  planning  employment  healthy cities  volunteers  newsletter  youth  volunteering  nutrition  employment opportunity  housing  alcohol and drugs  maori  community engagement  rebuilding  wellbeing  disabilities  Lectures  counselling  Training  earthquake recovery  sustainability  event  community gardens  Community  seminar  Awards  stress  Community Groups  mens health  research  arts  smokefree  culture  men  exercise  migrants  community event  education  environment  resilience  human rights  health  medical  business  sport  conferences  survey  mental wellbeing  Courses  obesity  elderly  support group  environmental health  healthy food  health promotion  violence  pacific health  resources  rebuild  women  race relations  meeting  gardens  workshop  services  leadership  forum  water  disabled  repair  transport  prevention  pacific  dance  fundraising  asian health  sexual health  inequality  cancer  support  disasters  development  mindfulness  dementia  presentation  collaboration  health in all policies  data analysis  recovery  smoking  law  drugs and alcohol  technology  safety  cycling  Sleep  policy  parenting  media  hearing  walking  land  neighbours  social justice  qualification  resilient cities  information  community connection  consultation  oral health  bullying  depression  youth empowerment  young people  activities  non-profit  charity  harm  NURSES  addiction  disease  Communication  alcohol  symposium  submission  anxiety  accessibility  Relationships  eating  economics  Advocacy  eLearning  falls  parking  energy  efficiency  heating  insulation  advice  Eating Disorders  abuse  waste  Matariki  webinar  diabetes  workplace  Film  Climate Change  solutions  urban  management  economy  plan  restoration  Report  Vulnerability  welfare  parks  learning  awareness  emergencies  legislation  injury prevention  reading  Meeting Room  conservation  language  refugees  recreation  built environment  data  venue  urban design  Food  older people  finances  suicide  heritage  gender  recycling  breastfeeding  public  identity  Nursing  submissions  Rainbow  biodiversity  campaign  promotion  Gut Health  diversity  therapy  older adults  sexuality  computing  pollution  School Holidays  Arts Therapy  providers  gambling  Maori health  Cervical cancer  screening  trauma  autism  Governance  treaty of waitangi  care  mentoring  pets  relaxation  Professional Development  pornography  exhibition  history  discrimination  vaping  equity  lockdown  grief  rural  hygiene  participation  tourism  summer  intervention  warning  podcast  science  petition  swimming  roadworks  traffic  wildlife  beaches  pools  immunisation  vaccination  brain  preparation  open day  market  evaluation  noise  music  property  testing  crafts  CALD  cultural diversity  camping  creativity  child health  tamariki  climate action  Pasifika  refugee  migrant  community events  road safety  library  Hornby  skills  placemaking  regenerative communities  journey  reflection  regional council  councillors  water management  emergency management  retirement  stress management  Christmas  family  festival  alcohol harm  waterways  planting  health protection  legionnaire's disease  hepatitis  heatwaves  river beds  water safety  natural resources  fishing  gardening  workshops  stormwater  biosecurity  volunteer  plant and animal pest management  politics  faith  crime  drugs  pregnancy  native birds  Waimakariri  water quality  schools  early childhood  health professionals  heart disease  kura  school  ethical issues  rangatahi  Linwood  running  donations  whanau  financial pressures  online  health professional  flooding  conflict  peace  winter  agriculture 

Beauty of newly restored landmark revealed

Wednesday, April 17, 2024   Posted in: Signatory Notice Board By: Administrator With tags: built environment, restoration, heritage

Christchurch City Council Newsline: 17th April 2024

The scaffolding is down and for the first time in more than 10 years the ornate detail of Christchurch’s Old Municipal Chambers can be seen and appreciated.

The red brick building was designed by Samuel Hurst Seager and completed in 1887. It sits in a picturesque location on the banks of the Ōtākaro Avon River, beside the Worcester Boulevard bridge. 

It has just undergone an extensive programme of strengthening and restoration work after being damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes. 

It is a decorative Queen Anne-styled building - the first of its type in New Zealand - and represented a break from the predominant Gothic Revival style of major public buildings in the city. It served a region rapidly growing with arrivals of European settlers and is notable for the quality of its construction and decoration. 

To help return it to its former glory, Christchurch City Council entered into a restore and lease agreement with a charitable trust set up by private company Box 112. Ownership remains with the Council, who helped the trust by providing funding of $10 million towards restoration, and a 50 year lease. 

There are plans for the trust to establish a library of Antarctic literary works, journals and maps, in collaboration with Adventure Books owner Bill Nye. Adventure Books will also be housed in the building, and there is limited commercial space available. 

Mayor Phil Mauger is thrilled to see the Chamber’s exterior in all its beauty.

“The building is looking so great without the wrap and scaffolding for the first time since the earthquakes. I’m looking forward to seeing it open and I know the residents of Christchurch will be too.”

Council Acting Head of Parks Rupert Bool says those involved in restoring the building have done an incredible job. 

“We’re absolutely delighted with the end result, and it’s wonderful that the community will once again be able to enjoy this unique and picturesque example of Christchurch’s heritage.”

He adds that as with any heritage restoration, this one had its challenges. 

“The fragile state of the structure certainly presented an obstacle; the repair team had to undertake extensive bracing and strengthening work before they could even get inside. The sheer variety of detail was also a challenge, with a large number of ‘special’ bricks used in the original design.”

To help work out some of the missing details, old photos of the building were used as a reference, and many of the special bricks that were required have been recreated by a local company. 

During the restoration, a chisel with the initials H A was unearthed in the ceiling, which the team’s archaeologist suggested was likely a plugging chisel used in the construction of the brick walls.  

The roof timbers also revealed evidence of a fire that extensively damaged the building in the late 1920s. 

The fire started when an ash can at the bottom of the back staircase ignited, and travelled up the stairs to the custodian’s flat. The custodian and his family had to be rescued off the roof, prompting fire escapes to be fitted following the incident. 

The restoration of the decorative brick and stone exterior, complete with a cheeky pair of gargoyles at the entrance, is nearly complete and will soon be fully revealed with the removal of the fencing, along with fresh landscaping delivered by the Council. 

The building is set to open progressively in the second half of 2024, with the Antarctic Research Legacy Library taking centre stage afterwards. 

The former Municipal Chambers is a nationally significant category 1 heritage listed building.