The Civic, Christchurch

Last updated

The Civic
The old Civic Chambers.jpg
The Civic in 2009
The Civic, Christchurch
General information
Location Christchurch Central City
Address194–198 Manchester Street
Town or cityChristchurch
CountryNew Zealand
Coordinates 43°31′49″S172°38′24″E / 43.5303°S 172.6399°E / -43.5303; 172.6399
Construction started14 March 1900
Inaugurated1 November 1900
Renovated1922–1924
Demolished2011
Client Christchurch City Council
Technical details
Floor counttwo
Design and construction
Architecture firmClarkson & Ballantyne
Main contractorRennie and Pearce
Renovating team
Architect(s)Greenstreet and Anderson
Renovating firmW. Williamson
Designated26-Nov-1981
Reference no.1870
References
"Civic". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand . Retrieved 20 April 2011.

The Civic was a building in Manchester Street, central Christchurch, that was erected in 1900 and demolished in 2011. It was first used as an exhibition hall, then as a cinema, and then a theatre, before being gutted by fire in 1917. The northern part of the building was purchased by Christchurch City Council (CCC) and opened as the civic office in 1924, and served this purpose until 1980. After that it had several uses, including a restaurant, bar and live music venue. The building was heavily damaged in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, and was demolished.

Contents

The Civic was a Category II heritage building registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

History

Agricultural and Industrial Hall

Construction of the Agricultural and Industrial Hall in 1900 Construction of Canterbury Hall.jpg
Construction of the Agricultural and Industrial Hall in 1900

The Agricultural and Industrial Hall, also known as the Canterbury Hall, was built in 1900 at 192–194 Manchester Street. [1] [2] [3] The foundation stone was laid by Mayor William Reece on 14 March 1900. [4] William Clarkson and Robert Ballantyne, architects trading as Clarkson & Ballantyne, designed the building for the 50th jubilee of Christchurch, celebrating the arrival of the First Four Ships in December 1850. [3] [5] The contractors were Rennie and Pearce. [4] The Canterbury Industrial Association, a branch of the New Zealand Industrial Association, was the driving force behind the building. [6] Together with the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, an Agricultural and Industrial Hall Company was formed that owned the building. [4] [6] Samuel Brown, the president of the New Zealand Industrial Association, called it "possibly the finest hall in New Zealand". [6]

Canterbury Hall prior to burning down in 1917 Canterbury Hall.jpg
Canterbury Hall prior to burning down in 1917
Plan for the jubilee exhibition Jubilee exhibition plan, 1900.jpg
Plan for the jubilee exhibition

The building was formally opened on 1 November 1900 by the Mayoress, Mrs Reece. [4] [7] Later that afternoon, the Governor, The Earl of Ranfurly, opened the jubilee exhibition. The Premier's party consisted of Richard Seddon, Joseph Ward and families. [4] The day was declared as a public holiday from noon. [8]

The exhibition covered 74,000 square feet (6,900 m2) and took up two-thirds of the city block described by Manchester, Gloucester, Worcester Streets and Latimer Square. [9] It closed on 31 January 1901, having been visited by nearly 250,000 people, with a surplus of £3000. [10]

His Majesty's Theatre

The Canterbury Hall was then used as a cinema, seating 3,000. [3] In 1906, the building was converted to a theatre with a seating capacity of 1,400, and the name was changed to His Majesty's Theatre. [3] [11] The remodelled building was opened with the premier of the comic opera Erminie on 28 August 1906. [12] Fuller's leased the theatre for a period of ten years in early 1917, but tragedy struck on 11 November of that year when the building was gutted by fire. [13] The building, valued at £21,000, was lost, with only the façade left standing. [14] The city organ, which was donated by the Government after the 1906 New Zealand International Exhibition, valued at £5,000 [14] and insured for £3,750 [13] was also consumed by the flames. The building had only recently been offered to the Christchurch City Council as a town hall. [14]

Municipal offices

The Civic in 1925 with a portico Civic Offices, 1925.jpg
The Civic in 1925 with a portico

Christchurch City Council started looking for new civic offices in 1919, as the existing offices, these days known as Our City, had become too small. [15] CCC bought the northern part (194 Manchester Street) of the burned out shell in 1920 for their new municipal offices. [2]

The southern half of the old building at 192 Manchester Street opened as the Civic Theatre on 17 March 1928. [16] C. R. Dawe and Francis Willis were the architects for the theatre. [17] [18] That building was demolished in 1983, truncating the impressive 1900 façade by half. [2] [17]

Greenstreet and Anderson were engaged as architects for the civic offices, and W. Williamson was engaged as a builder in 1922. [2] Monica Thacker, the mayoress, laid the foundation stone. [19] The building was opened on 1 September 1924. [20] The design was based on an American banking chamber, where one continuous desk in the form of a horseshoe in the main hall gave access for the public to every department of the council. [20]

External image
Searchtool.svg The horseshoe shaped customer desk in the Civic in 1979 [20]

An imposing portico was built over the footpath, but this was later demolished. [21]

All council staff (apart from specialist services like the electricity department) were once again under one roof, but this lasted only until 1943. With an increase in the number of staff, and other municipalities amalgamating with Christchurch City Council, council started housing some staff in other buildings. By 1978, council staff were in nine different buildings. [20]

The new Christchurch Town Hall was built in Kilmore Street, over the Avon River from Victoria Square, and opened in 1972. [22] Part II of this civic area were supposed to be new civic offices as a replacement for the building in Manchester Street. It was envisaged to build on the corner of Kilmore and Durham Streets, cutting Victoria Street off from going through Victoria Square, but this scheme did not proceed. Instead, the city council purchased Miller's Department Store in Tuam Street in 1978 and fitted this building out as the new civic offices, occupying the building in 1980. [20] The City Council sold the Civic in 1982 for $760,000. [2]

Post 1982

Elemeno P performing at the Civic Elemeno P, The Civic 2.jpg
Elemeno P performing at the Civic

The Civic has had several owners and different uses. In 1984, it was the Civic Regency Restaurant. It was renamed the Civic in 1986 and was a bar, and then served as a live music venue, with acts by Salmonella Dub, Shapeshifter, Elemeno P and Anika Moa. [2] It also hosted nighttime performances of the annual buskers festival. [23] [ dead link ‍] The Civic stopped hosting music events in 2009. [2]

Demise

The collapsed facade of the Civic after the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake Civic, Christchurch, 23 February 2011.jpg
The collapsed façade of the Civic after the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake

The Civic was heavily damaged in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Much of the façade collapsed into Manchester Street. The building was demolished in 2011. [24]

Following the earthquake, a time capsule was found in the building. It was opened on 12 April 2011 by mayor Bob Parker, together with two further capsules found in the plinth of the toppled Godley Statue. The time capsule from the Civic contained newspapers, a book with photos and the council's balance sheet and statements for the year ended 31 March 1921. [25] [26] [27]

Heritage listing

On 26 November 1981, the building was registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category II historic place, with the registration number being 1870. [28]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christchurch Town Hall</span> Performing arts centre in Christchurch, New Zealand

The Christchurch Town Hall, since 2007 formally known as the Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts, opened in 1972, is Christchurch, New Zealand's premier performing arts centre. It is located in the central city on the banks of the Avon River overlooking Victoria Square, opposite the former location of the demolished Christchurch Convention Centre. Due to significant damage sustained during the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, it was closed until 2019. Council staff initially recommended demolition of all but the main auditorium, but at a meeting in November 2012, councillors voted to rebuild the entire hall. In 2020, the town hall was registered as a Category I heritage building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Rhodes (politician)</span> New Zealand politician

Arthur Edgar Gravenor Rhodes was a New Zealand member of parliament and mayor of Christchurch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Flesher</span> New Zealand mayor (1865–1930)

James Arthur Flesher was a politician in Christchurch, New Zealand. He held many public offices and was Mayor of Christchurch from 1923 to 1925.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Jameson</span> New Zealand politician (1824–1896)

James Purvis Jameson JP was Mayor of Christchurch in 1870–1871. A linen draper from the Manchester area, he emigrated with his family to Christchurch in 1863. He was involved with many organisations in Christchurch and was active in the Congregational church. For a time, he was a farmer on the Canterbury Plains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Wilson (mayor)</span> New Zealand politician (1819–1897)

William Barbour Wilson, also known as Cabbage Wilson, was the first Mayor of Christchurch in New Zealand in 1868. A nurseryman by profession, he had large landholdings in Christchurch. His reputation was dented by a fraud conviction, and when he was subsequently elected onto the city council once more, five councillors resigned in protest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Anderson (mayor)</span> New Zealand blacksmith and businessman (1820–1897)

John Anderson was the second Mayor of Christchurch in New Zealand 1868–1869, and a successful businessman. He had a close connection with three buildings that have later received Category I heritage registrations by Heritage New Zealand. Two of these buildings were demolished following the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Louisson</span> New Zealand politician

Charles Melville Louisson, known as Charles Louisson or Chas Louisson, was a New Zealand politician. Born in London, and relocated to Australia as a teenager, he worked in farming and on the gold fields. He moved to Christchurch to join his brother Alfred in business, which they conducted in transport, as merchants and farmers in various places in the South Island. Back in Christchurch, they were joined by their brother Cecil and bought a brewery, which under their stewardship became very successful.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Gapes</span>

Thomas Gapes was Mayor of Christchurch 1893/94. His father James Gapes was twice mayor in the 1870s/80s. The family was of humble origin, had come out to New Zealand from London as assisted immigrants and were running a painting and paper-hanging business, but had come to status in their new country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel Paull Andrews</span> New Zealand politician

Samuel Paull Andrews was a 19th-century politician in Christchurch, New Zealand. Originally from the Isle of Wight, he was the first working class man to become a Member of Parliament in his chosen country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Clock Tower</span> Historic site in Victoria Street, Christchurch Central City

The Victoria Clock Tower, also known as the Diamond Jubilee Clock Tower, is a heritage-registered clock tower located in Christchurch, New Zealand. Designed by Benjamin Mountfort, it is registered as a "Historic Place – Category I" by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lyttelton Times Building</span> Initially commercial, now hostel in Christchurch, New Zealand

The Lyttelton Times Building, last known as Base Backpackers, in 56 Cathedral Square, Christchurch Central City, was the last headquarters of the Lyttelton Times before its demise in 1935 as the then-oldest newspaper in New Zealand. The building in Chicago School architectural style was registered with New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category I heritage item, with the registration number 7216. The building's last use was as a backpackers' hostel and a restaurant. It was demolished following the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our City, Christchurch</span> Heritage listed building in Christchurch, New Zeland

Our City, more formally Our City O-Tautahi, also known as the Old Municipal Chambers, is a Queen Anne style building on the corner of Worcester Street and Oxford Terrace in the Christchurch Central City. It is a Category I heritage building registered with Heritage New Zealand. From 1887 to 1924 it was used by Christchurch City Council as their civic offices, providing room for meetings of the council and for housing staff, before they moved to the Civic. It was then used for many decades by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and served as the main tourist information. It was last used as an exhibition and events centre before being damaged in the Christchurch earthquakes. It is due to be reopened in June 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarendon Tower</span> Former building in Christchurch, New Zealand

Clarendon Tower was a high rise building on Worcester Street at Oxford Terrace in the Christchurch Central City, New Zealand. Built on the site of the former Clarendon Hotel, the façade of the historic building was kept in the redevelopment and was protected by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category II heritage structure. Following damage from the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the 17-storey building has been demolished.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Maddison</span> New Zealand architect (1850–1923)

Joseph Clarkson Maddison was a New Zealand architect. He trained as an architect in his native London and came to Canterbury at the age of 22. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, he was one of the most prominent architects in Christchurch, receiving commissions from all over the country. Until the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, 13 of his buildings were listed by Heritage New Zealand on their register, with three of those Category I listings, but many of the Christchurch buildings have been demolished since. His style was plain and utilitarian, and he specialised in the classical Italian mode.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel Farr (architect)</span> 19th-century New Zealand architect

Samuel Charles Farr was a 19th-century builder and architect in Christchurch, New Zealand. He intended to emigrate from England to Auckland, but significant shipping problems saw him end up in Akaroa in 1850 instead. From 1862, he lived in Christchurch. Farr has a number of firsts against his name: the first marriage in Canterbury, he designed Akaroa's first church, designed New Zealand's first iron verandahs, and he started Sunday schools in Canterbury. As a leading member of the Acclimatisation Society, he stocked almost every lake and river in Canterbury with fish and was instrumental in introducing the bumblebee to New Zealand. His most notable building was Cranmer Court, the former Normal School, in the Christchurch Central City; this building was demolished following the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Square, Christchurch</span> Public place in Christchurch, New Zealand

Victoria Square is a public park located in central Christchurch, New Zealand. Originally known by European settlers as Market Place or Market Square, it was renamed to Victoria Square in 1903 in honour of Queen Victoria. It was one of the four squares included in the original plan of Christchurch when the city was laid out in 1850.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowne Plaza, Christchurch</span> Hotel in Christchurch Central City

The Crowne Plaza in Christchurch, New Zealand, originally known as the Parkroyal Hotel, was a hotel of the Crowne Plaza group. Built in 1988 in the north-west corner of Victoria Square after much public protest, as it cut off the first part of Victoria Street, its construction happened at the same time and enabled the substantial redesign of Victoria Square. The building had New Zealand's largest atrium, and was one of the city's largest hotels. The building suffered significant damage in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and was demolished in April 2012. The Crowne Plaza group has secured a lease in the Forsyth Barr Building at the opposite end of Victoria Square.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lyttelton Borough Council Chambers</span> Civic office in Lyttelton, New Zealand

The Lyttelton Borough Council Chambers was the headoffice of the Lyttelton Borough Council from 1887 until the late 20th century, when the borough council moved to a number of other buildings. Civic use of the building stopped in 1999, when the building was sold for business and residential use. Registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust in 2003, the building was demolished in June 2011 following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christchurch Bus Interchange</span> Bus station in Christchurch

The Christchurch Bus Interchange is the bus station in the Christchurch Central City in New Zealand. Built as one of the 17 anchor projects identified in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, it opened in May 2015 after the previous Bus Exchange had been damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

References

  1. ↑ Cyclopedia Company Limited (1903). "Buildings". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Canterbury Provincial District. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand . Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "The Civic of Canterbury". Christchurch City Libraries . Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Canterbury Hall". Canterbury Filmsociety. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Jubilee Exhibition : The Opening Ceremony". The Star . No. 6940. 1 November 1900. p. 3. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  5. ↑ Cyclopedia Company Limited (1903). "Clarkson And Ballantyne". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Canterbury Provincial District. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand . Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 "The Jubilee Exhibition". The Star . No. 6942. 3 November 1900. p. 6. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  7. ↑ "Opening of the Christchurch Exhibition". The Evening Post . Vol. LX, no. 106. 1 November 1900. p. 6. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  8. ↑ "The Jubilee Exhibition : Meeting of the Executive Committee". The Star . No. 6935. 26 October 1900. p. 1. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  9. ↑ "The Jubilee Exhibition". The Star . No. 6940. 1 November 1900. p. 4. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  10. ↑ "The Exhibition". The Star . No. 7014. 1 February 1901. p. 4. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  11. ↑ "The City's Theatres". The Star . No. 8639. 2 June 1906. p. 4. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  12. ↑ "Erminie". The Star . No. 8704. 18 August 1906. p. 7. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  13. 1 2 "The Christchurch Fire". Hawera & Normanby Star. Vol. LXXIV. 12 November 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  14. 1 2 3 "Great Fire in Christchurch". Wanganui Chronicle. Vol. LXII, no. 17137. 12 November 1917. p. 5. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  15. ↑ "Remembering our former homes as we move to the Council's new Home on Hereford". Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  16. ↑ "1928". Christchurch City Libraries . Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  17. 1 2 Wilson, John (2007). City and Peninsula : The Historic Places of Christchurch and Banks Peninsula. Christchurch: The Christchurch Civic Trust, The Akaroa Civic Trust. p. 140. ISBN   978-0-473-12239-3.
  18. ↑ Dryden, John (February 1993). "The Legacy of Thomas Edmonds" (PDF). Christchurch: Christchurch City Council. pp. 12f. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  19. ↑ Rice, Geoffrey W. "Thacker, Henry Thomas Joynt". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 "Christchurch City Council : Civic Offices" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries . Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  21. ↑ "The municipal offices in Manchester Street, Christchurch". Christchurch City Libraries . Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  22. ↑ "The Christchurch Town Hall". Christchurch City Libraries . Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  23. ↑ "WORLDS BUSKERS FESTIVAL 2008". The New Zealand Performing Arts Review and Directory. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  24. ↑ "The Civic of Canterbury". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  25. ↑ "Time capsules give up their long-held secrets". TVNZ. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  26. ↑ "Christchurch-Capsules found earthquake ruins opened". NZPA. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  27. ↑ "Time capsules' contents revealed". The Press . 12 April 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2024– via Stuff.
  28. ↑ "Civic". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand . Retrieved 22 April 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.