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…
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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…
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…
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 …
Telephone Girls, The Telegraph and Post Office, Cathedral Square
Articles, Lost Christchurch
Written by Helen Solomons In 1879, my great grandfather, Mortimer Cashman Corliss, was promoted to head telegraphist in Christchurch’s newly built Post and Telegraph Office in Cathedral Squar…
A Penny Stamp for All Places – Cathedral Square c.1908
Articles, Lost Christchurch
“There are two classes of Christchurch postcards – those with the Cathedral and those without.” [1] The elegance of a lost age is captured in this exquisite photochrom post…
Shaves & Shampoos on the North West Corner of Cathedral Square
Articles, Lost Christchurch
It’s just before 3pm on a late summer day in 1914. Prolific Christchurch photographer, Steffano Webb is setting up his camera equipment inside the gents’ hairdressing saloon of well kno…
Government Building Worcester Street – Building for the Future
Articles, Lost Christchurch
The construction of government buildings have long attracted opinion and criticism and the Italian Renaissance style Government Buildings on the corner of Worcester street and Cathedral Square were…
Sumner Tram Excursion
Articles, Lost Christchurch
On this summer’s day in 1906, the ten o’clock morning tram to Sumner is about to depart from outside the Royal Exchange in Cathedral Square. An excursion to Sumner was a popular outing …
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