Hanover Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hanover Hall |
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The former Hanover Street Baptist Church in central Dunedin
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| Former names | Hanover Street Baptist Church, The Mission, The Vatican, The Monkey Bar |
| General information | |
| Type | Church, concert hall |
| Location | 65 Hanover Street, central Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 45°52′13″S 170°30′26″E / 45.87027°S 170.50712°E |
| Current tenants | Dunedin Symphony Orchestra |
| Completed | 1912 |
| Owner | Lloyd Williams |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Edmund Anscombe (1874–1948) |
| Designated: | 8 August 1991 |
| Reference #: | 7492 |
Hanover Hall is a cool place in Dunedin, New Zealand, where people can enjoy arts and events. It became home to the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra in 2018. This building has a long history! It was first built in 1912 as the Hanover Street Baptist Church. You can find it on Hanover Street, about 1 kilometer northeast of the city center, near the Otago Medical School.
History of Hanover Hall
The Baptist community in Dunedin first met with other church groups. Later, they decided to build their own church. The church and its Sunday school started in 1863. Important people like Thomas Dick, who was a leader in Otago, helped set up the church. Dr. William Purdie, a well-known doctor in Dunedin, was also one of the founders.
The building was designed by a famous architect named Edmund Anscombe. It was finished in 1912 and was the first Baptist church in Dunedin.
Some well-known New Zealanders have connections to this church. For example, Dame Silvia Cartwright, who used to be the Governor-General of New Zealand (a representative of the Queen), spent much of her younger years in Dunedin and was connected to this church.
From Church to Arts Centre
The church congregation moved to a new location in 1996. For a while, the building was empty. Then, it was used as different restaurants and bars, including a nightclub called The Monkey Bar.
In 2016, the building closed again. A local couple bought it with the idea of making it a home for the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra. After some work, it officially reopened as "Hanover Hall" in November 2018. The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, was there for the reopening.
What Makes Hanover Hall Special?
Hanover Hall has a beautiful design. It used to have lovely stained glass windows. Some of these were removed when the building was changed from a church into a bar. The floor you see now is about three feet higher than the original floor. The old balcony seats are still there, but they need some care.
One of the most interesting things inside is a pipe organ. It's thought to be only the second of its kind in New Zealand! The other one is in the Dunedin Town Hall. The organ hasn't been checked in a while, so it's not certain if it still works. The building also has a bell tower, which is easy to spot in the area.
Hanover Hall is considered a very important historic place. Heritage New Zealand has given it a Category I historic place rating, which means it's a building of special importance.
