Councillors Visit Restored Canterbury Club

Councillors Visit Restored Canterbury Club

The Christchurch City Council's heritage committee visited the Canterbury Club today for a tour of the recently completed restoration work the Council helped fund.

In 2007, the Council approved a Heritage Incentive Grant of $238,556, which accounted for 40 per cent of the total heritage-related costs.

Cr Helen Broughton, Chair of the Heritage Grants and Covenants Committee, says it was great to see the final outcome of this contribution

"The committee is passionate about seeing buildings such as the Canterbury Club restored to their former glory, as it helps to improve the quality and design of the city's urban environment.

"The Clubhouse is looking wonderful inside and out, making it a treasure to Club members and a heritage building the public can enjoy," she says.

Club Secretary Manager David Cartwright says the Club was originally created as a meeting place for businessmen and professionals, and was a male only establishment until recently.

"Membership was opened to women in 2002, and today's members include a wide range of professionals, business people and entrepreneurs of all ages.

"The Club is significant compared with others institutions in New Zealand, as not many can claim to have been on the original site, with the same owners and used for the same purpose for more than 130 years. Having the building restored means we're able to preserve this heritage for the community and ensure the Club's continued success," he says.

Council staff worked closely with the Club's architect and heritage advisor on the restoration work, which included re-roofing, exterior repairs and redecoration, new foundations and seismic strengthening.

The design work involved in the refurbishment process was entered into the 2009 Canterbury Architecture Awards by Alun Wilkie, of Wilkie + Bruce Architects, and won in its heritage category.

The Canterbury Club is a Group 2 listed building in the Christchurch City Plan and a noted inner city landmark on the corner of Worcester Boulevard and Cambridge Terrace.

The Canterbury Club is opening its doors to the public for a tour of the building on Saturday 10 April, 9.30 to 11.30am. Those interested can contact David Cartwright by emailing david@canterburyclub.co.nz.

ENDS