Chief Post Office, Christchurch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chief Post Office |
|
|---|---|
The former Chief Post Office after the 2010 Canterbury earthquake (photo from 2019)
|
|
| General information | |
| Type | Government, with some commercial enterprises |
| Architectural style | Italianate style with classical and Venetian Gothic elements |
| Location | Cathedral Square, Christchurch Central City |
| Address | 31 Cathedral Square |
| Town or city | Christchurch |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 43°31′54″S 172°38′09″E / 43.5316°S 172.6358°E |
| Current tenants | Christchurch Visitor Information Starbucks |
| Construction started | 24 May 1877 |
| Completed | 1878 |
| Renovated | 1907 |
| Owner | Chrystal Imports |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | two |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Henry Clayton |
| Main contractor | Daniel Reese |
| Designated: | 2 April 1985 |
| Reference #: | 291 |
The Chief Post Office is an important historic building in Cathedral Square, New Zealand. It was first called the Government Building. This building used to be a post office and held other government offices.
After the big 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the building became hard to reach. Today, it serves as the main Visitor Information Centre. You can also find a Starbucks coffee shop on the ground floor. This building was also home to New Zealand's very first telephone exchange. It is officially recognized as a special heritage building by Heritage New Zealand.
Contents
Where is the Chief Post Office located?
The Chief Post Office is at 31 Cathedral Square. It sits in the southwest corner of the Square. After the post office opened, footpaths and a taxi stand were added. In 1992, the road in front of the building was closed. This was part of a plan to redesign Cathedral Square.
A Look at the Building's History
Why was a new post office needed?
In 1863, officials decided that Christchurch would become the main post town. Before this, Lyttelton held that title. The government was renting many buildings in Canterbury. Some of these were not in good spots or were poorly built. Christchurch's first post office was very small. It was located in Market Square, which is now called Victoria Square.
The local government, the Canterbury Provincial Council, agreed to build new government offices. These would be in Cathedral Square. The site was officially given to the Crown in 1873.
Who designed the building?
The plans for the new building were drawn by William Henry Clayton. He was New Zealand's first Colonial Architect. Clayton had also designed the post office in Lyttelton. That smaller building helped him prepare for the larger one in Cathedral Square. People agreed the new building should house government offices. They also thought it should look nice.
Building Begins
The job of constructing the building went to Daniel Reese. The first stone was laid on May 24, 1877. This was Queen Victoria's birthday. Hon Edward Richardson, a local Member of Parliament, led the ceremony. He had been the first Minister of Public Works. Richardson spoke about the long delay in starting construction. This delay was due to arguments about where to build it.
Soon after the foundation stone was laid, William Clayton passed away. His assistant, Pierre Finch Martineau Burrows, took over. The building was finished in 1878. It officially opened on July 14, 1879.
Changes and Extensions
The building first held the postal department and other government offices. In 1881, New Zealand's first telephone exchange was set up here. In 1907, the building was made bigger. A third gable was added to the west side. Until then, it had two matching fronts. Burrows also designed and oversaw this extension.
When a new Government Building opened in 1913, the postal services stayed in this building. That's when it became known as the Chief Post Office.
Facing Challenges
In the 1930s, there was talk of tearing down the post office. More space was needed for services. A new post office was not built until 1989. This new, taller building is right next to the old one. Parts of the historic building had to be removed to make space for the new high-rise.
The Chief Post Office had only minor damage in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake. It also had small damage in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The owner, Gordon Chamberlain, worried that repairs to nearby tall buildings would block access to his properties for a long time.
Building Design and Features
What does the building look like?
The Chief Post Office is made of brick. Its design is in the Italianate style. This means it has features from classical and Venetian Gothic buildings. The windows on the upper floor have pointed arches. Later, a third gabled section was added to the front. The building is listed as a Category I heritage item. This means it is very important to New Zealand's history.
The Clock Tower
There is a clock tower on the building. It has a working, four-faced clock. This clock was put in place in 1879. People say it's a copy of London's famous Great Clock of Westminster. Below the east-facing clock is the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom.
The clock was known for not always being on time. So, an electric clock was installed later. This electric clock controlled the visible clock faces. The clock used to chime every hour and quarter hour. But after a fire in the 1980s damaged its parts, the clock became silent.
