Massey Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Massey Memorial |
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| New Zealand | |
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| For William Massey | |
| Unveiled | 1930 |
| Location | 41°17′07″S 174°49′34″E / 41.28528°S 174.82611°E |
| Designed by | Samuel Hurst Seager in conjunction with Gummer and Ford |
The Massey Memorial is a special building built to honor William Massey. He was a very important leader, serving as the Prime Minister of New Zealand. This memorial is located at Point Halswell, on the Miramar Peninsula in Wellington, New Zealand. It's like a grand tomb or monument where he and his wife are buried.
History of the Memorial
William Massey was New Zealand's Prime Minister from 1912 until 1925. He passed away while still in office. After his death, the government decided to create a special burial place for him. They passed a law called the Massey Burial-ground Act.
This law set aside a piece of land, about 0.8 hectares (which is almost two acres). This land was meant for William Massey and his wife, Christina, to be buried. The area had been used for defense during World War I but was empty afterward. An old fort on the site was turned into a crypt, which is an underground room for burials. A gun-pit, where a large gun once stood, was lined with marble to become a vault.
The rest of the memorial was finished in 1930. It cost about £15,000 at the time. Most of this money was collected from the public through donations.
Design and Features
The Massey Memorial was designed by Samuel Hurst Seager, who was known for creating memorials. He worked with architects Gummer and Ford from Auckland. The building is made from beautiful Kairuru marble. Its base is made of strong Coromandel granite.
A main part of the memorial is a half-circle of seven marble columns. A marble path leads visitors to the entrance of the crypt. The design of the memorial follows the shape of the old fort that was once there. A dome in the center of the memorial shows where a gun pit used to be.
In 1984, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust officially recognized the memorial. They listed it as a Category I Historic Place. This means it's considered a very important historical site in New Zealand.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento conmemorativo Massey para niños
