A Second World War-Era Underground Command Bunker & The Christchurch Cathedral -Which Should Come First?

Council has committed nearly $22.5 million to repairing city heritage, while 15 sites remain off limits. The NZR asks people about the city's heritage and whether they or the Cathedral come first.

What do a Second World War-era underground command headquarters, a school for sawmill workers’ children and a stables on a site that served as a processing house for immigrants arriving in Lyttelton and housed the Canterbury Association’s John Robert Godley share? They are three of the Council’s final 15 heritage buildings that remain closed to the city’s residents.

(Schwede 66 - Own Work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia/w/index.php/curid=8682874)

More than 13 years since the Canterbury Earthquakes, just over three-quarters of the Christchurch City Council’s 67 heritage buildings are open to the public. Fifthteen are still closed to the public and three - Chokebore Lodge, the Former Municipal Chambers (below) and Robert McDougall Art Gallery - are being repaired. Two more have been repaired and are yet to be opened.

Of the ten remaining (about 19.4%), the Council has given 6 the green light to their repair.

As of 17 June 2024, the Council has committed almost $22.5 million under the Long Term Plan towards their repair -

• “Canterbury Provincial Council Chambers and setting” - close to $20 million

• “Former Kukupa Side School and Setting” - $606,539

• “Little River Library and setting” - $715,312

• “Monavale Bath house and setting” - $$726,391

• “Dwelling and setting (Yew/Jenny’s cottage) - $521,904

• “Barbadoes cemeteries, (Sexton’s House) - to be confirmed.

This leaves four buildings in limbo.

“Former Lyttelton Borough Council Stables”.

The council’s annual insurance bill comes close to $1.3 million for 57 buildings. Half of that yearly cost (or $500,000) comes from the Provincial Chambers on the corner of Worcester Street and Oxford Terrace. The Chambers repair appears to be close to completion.

Ten buildings are uninsured. That group includes Tower Junction’s water tower, the Bandsman’s Rotunda (presumably located in Hagley Park) and old Lancaster Park’s memorial gates.

Meanwhile, only few hundred meters from the Provincial Chambers, the Cathedral’s reinstatement has come to a standstill while the Anglican Church team scrambles to reduce a shortfall of $114 million (Radio NZ) for the Christchurch Cathedral’s reinstatement.

And yet, while the Anglican Church has put pressure on the council to help, 10 of the council’s own heritage buildings remain out of action or in need of repair.

On a wet and windy day near the corner of Worcester Street and Oxford Terrace, The NZR asked passers-by Gary Taylor (above) and others about the city council’s heritage buildings and which comes first, the Cathedral or the council buildings.

Listen to Tom, lawyer

Listen to John and co.

The remainder of the this article uncovers just what are those 15 council heritage buildings and what supposed significance do they hold.

In Repair

As of 17 June 2024, three of the council’s buildings were being repaired.

1. “Dwelling and Setting Chokebore Lodge”

   Built in 1856, Chokebore Lodge was named by owner Henry Redwood after a shotgun.

   

   (Heritage NZ)

2. “Former Municipal Chambers and Setting”

   Built in 1877 in “Queen Anne” style, it served as the seat of local council until 1922.

   

   (Christchurch City Council)

3. “Robert McDougall Art Gallery and Setting”

   After a citizens voted against taking a loan to build a city art gallery, McDougall, a city philanthropist and businessman who earned his fortune through the sale of Aulsebrooks biscuits, stumped up most of the cash. It was finished in 1932.

   

(Canterbury Museum)

Repaired. Need Healthy Homes Upgrade

1. “Dwelling and Setting, Belfast School Master’s” (1877) - Main South Road

   

   (CCC)

2. “Dwelling and Setting (Kapuatohe)” on Main South Road

   Built about 1912.

To Be Decided

Council has yet to decide the fate of four buildings.