Christchurch City Council Media Release
28 September 2009

150th Anniversary of first Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings

An exhibition starting tomorrow (Tuesday 29 September) marks the 150th Anniversary celebrations of the first meeting in the Timber Chamber, part of the first stage of Canterbury’s Provincial Government Buildings.

The exhibition housed in the Provincial Buildings Timber Chamber will feature heritage photographs and information panels depicting design, foundation stone laying, building and use of the purpose-built first stage of the government buildings.

It will continue until December, aligning itself to the celebrations of Christchurch Heritage Week in October.

The Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings are the only surviving provincial government buildings in the country and, because of their great architectural and historical significance, have been given the highest classification by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust Pouhere Taonga.

Canterbury was one of New Zealand’s six original provinces and the Provincial Council governed the region from 1853 until 1876. It had taken over the governance of the region from the Canterbury Association which had brought migrants to settle in Canterbury from 1850.

The foundation stone for the timber building was laid on 6 January 1858 with the first meeting of the 11th session held in situ on 29 September 1859. Architect Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort followed the example of the ‘home country’ in designing the impressive council buildings in gothic revival style.

“The province, in the short time of its existence, flourished and was able to build a structure that reflected both the heritage of the settlers and their confidence in their future here” says Di Keenan, Manager Communications with the Christchurch City Council. “The Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings are a defining and iconic feature of our built environment. They were, and still continue to be, central to our sense of identity.”

The Christchurch City Council maintains these historic buildings, placing a major focus on their context in national and local settings and preserving the distinctive style that enriches and enlivens the fabric of our landscape.

Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings are located on the corner of Durham and Gloucester Streets, near the Central Library.

The buildings are open to the public Monday-Saturday 10.30 am to 3.30 pm

Website – http://www.ccc.govt.nz/provincialbuildings

ENDS

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