Christchurch Club facts for kids
The Christchurch Club is a very old and important private club for men in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. It was started in 1856 by wealthy farmers and landowners. It's the older of two similar clubs in Christchurch. The other club, called the Canterbury Club, was formed later in 1872 by people who worked in the city.
The Christchurch Club: A Historic Place
The Christchurch Club was first known simply as The Club. It was created in 1856 by rich landowners called runholders. One of the people who helped start it was George Ross. At first, the club rented rooms on Durham Street for its members to use when they visited Christchurch.
Designing the Club Building
Later, a famous architect named Benjamin Mountfort was hired to design a special building for the club. This building was planned for a spot next to Latimer Square on Worcester Street. Mountfort's design for the club was quite unique for him. It was a mix of styles. The club members wanted a design like an Italian palace, similar to famous clubs in London. But Mountfort usually preferred a Gothic style. So, they agreed on an Italian Villa style. This style looked elegant but also relaxed, fitting for a club started by people from the countryside. The building was finished between 1861 and 1862.
Because many important landowners were members, the Christchurch Club was a very influential place in the 1800s. It was where many important discussions happened in the Canterbury region. On April 2, 1985, the building was officially recognized as a Category I historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. This means it's a very important historic building.
Earthquakes and Repairs
The Christchurch Club building was badly damaged during the big earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. Since April 2016, the club has been using the George Hotel as its temporary home while the historic building is being fixed. Over the years, there have been several ideas for the Christchurch Club and the Canterbury Club to join together again. The last time this was discussed was in 2013.
