The Chief Post Office

Articles, Lost Christchurch

The moving of the Post Office from Market Square to its new site in Cathedral Square, was a significant development in Cathedral Square’s importance in Christchurch business and city life. Th…

Uncovering Victoria Square

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

In 1848, when the City of Christchurch was nothing but a design concept of the Canterbury Association back in London the idea of a ‘little slice of England’ (but half the world away) was born (Rice 2014, 9). Exactly how … Continue reading →

Market Square: swamp, river and raupo in the central city

Articles, Lost Christchurch

It was hard to avoid sinking up to your knees in wet weather in Market Square in 1862.  This panoramic photograph shows Christchurch’s Market Place (later renamed Victoria Square) the damp ge…

Torlesse Building, the first stone structure in Cathedral Square

Articles, Lost Christchurch

The first stone structure built in Cathedral Square was the small Gothic stone Torlesse building. Situated in the south-west corner of the square, the two storey, three gable dormer windowed buildi…

Register Record for the Press Building, 32 Cathedral Square, Christchurch

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

Register Record for the Press Building, 32 Cathedral Square, Christchurch

Building Record Form for Warner's Hotel, 50 Cathedral Square, Christchurch

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

Building Record Form for Warner's Hotel, 50 Cathedral Square, Christchurch

Building Record form for Regent Theatre Building, 39 Cathedral Square, Chr…

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

Building Record form for Regent Theatre Building, 39 Cathedral Square, Christchurch

Building Record Form for Dorothy's Boutique Hotel, 2 Latimer Square, Chris…

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

Building Record Form for Dorothy's Boutique Hotel, 2 Latimer Square, Christchurch

Building Record Form for the Press Building, 32 Cathedral Square, Christch…

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

Building Record Form for the Press Building, 32 Cathedral Square, Christchurch

Register Record for the Sevicke Jones Building, 53 Cathedral Square, Chris…

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

Register Record for the Sevicke Jones Building, 53 Cathedral Square, Christchurch

Register Record for the former Lyttelton Times Building, 56 Cathedral Squa…

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

Register Record for the former Lyttelton Times Building, 56 Cathedral Square, Christchurch

Register Record for Regent Theatre Building (Former Royal Exchange), 39 Ca…

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

Register Record for Regent Theatre Building (Former Royal Exchange), 39 Cathedral Square, Christchurch

Building Record Form for the former Lyttelton Times Building, 56 Cathedral…

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

Building Record Form for the former Lyttelton Times Building, 56 Cathedral Square, Christchurch

The Square and the Disappearing Old World of Christchurch

Articles, Lost Christchurch

Dominating a once simpler Cathedral Square, are the formidable buildings – Government Life Insurance Building, the Grand Theatre, the Crystal Palace Theatre, the Reuters Telegram Company Buil…

Iconic Ice-cream Charlie, Cathedral Square

Articles, Lost Christchurch

‘Ice Cream Charlie’ operated a well-known ice cream cart in Cathedral Square for much of the first half of the twentieth century. He was reknowned for his friendly nature and delicious …

Handsome and substantial – Warner’s Hotel, Cathedral Square

Articles, Lost Christchurch

On the north east corner of Cathedral Square, the Commercial Hotel, owned by John Etherden Coker (1832 – 1894) was opened in 1863. The name Warner’s was not used until the hotel’s…

Dalgety’s Building, Cathedral Square 1928

Articles, Lost Christchurch

The streets are quiet – a parked car sits outside Dalgety’s, a lone tram rumbles towards the tram sheds and a tired delivery horse stands with his head bowed, eating chaff from his feed…

The Savoy Theatre, Cathedral Square

Articles, Lost Christchurch

After World War One, there was a growing appetite for the glitzy glamour of the ‘Jazz Age’ and Hollywood. Christchurch residents were hungry to embrace American culture and its new comm…

“It’s over!” Armistice Day in Cathedral Square

Articles, Lost Christchurch

Cathedral Square hosted one of New Zealand’s most significant historic events after the armistice was signed by the Western Allies and the Central Powers on 11th November 1918 in Paris, Franc…

The Bank of New Zealand, corner of Cathedral Square, Hereford and Colombo …

Articles, Lost Christchurch

The impressive Bank of New Zealand building occupied a large corner of Cathedral Square and junction of Hereford and Colombo Streets. The Bank of New Zealand was first established in Auckland in 18…

A local Lyttelton landmark lives on

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

This week on the blog, we look at what we found beneath a local landmark in the community of Lyttelton: the newly refurbished Albion Square. The Albion Square, on the corner of London and Canterbury streets, is home of the … Continue reading →

Archaeological Report on 2 Latimer Square

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

An archaeological report compiled for New Zealand Historic Places Trust under the Historical Places Act 1993

Archaeological Report on 54 Cathedral Square

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

An archaeological report compiled for New Zealand Historic Places Trust under the Historical Places Act 1993

Archaeological Report on 53 Cathedral Square

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

An archaeological report compiled for New Zealand Historic Places Trust under the Historical Places Act 1993

The Royal Exchange, Cathedral Square, 1905

Articles, Lost Christchurch

The Royal Exchange’s beautiful tower, dome and decorative facade is taking shape as the building nears completion. Fresh to the shores of New Zealand,  the Australian architect brothers …

Archaeological Report on 22-24 Cranmer Square

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

An archaeological report compiled for New Zealand Historic Places Trust under the Historical Places Act 1993

Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV, pages 348-349: Thinking Outside…

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

A PDF copy of pages 348-349 of the book Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV. The pages document the transitional project 'Thinking Outside the Square'. Photos: Gap Filler

We will remember them: Kiwis gather around NZ for Anzac Day dawn services

Articles, Videos, TV3

Christchurch Cathedral Square held its first Anzac Day dawn service since the earthquakes.

The Church in the Quakes: Rev'd Peter Collier's Transcript

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

A copy of the transcript of Rev'd Peter Collier's interview for the Church in the Quakes Project. The interview was conducted by Melissa Parsons on 7 December 2012. Collier is the Priest Assistant at St John's Church in Latimer Square.

Ruth Gardner's Blog 16/11/2013: Mother Mary

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

An entry from Ruth Gardner's Blog for 16 November 2013 entitled, "Mother Mary".