| Victoria Clock Tower | |
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Victoria Clock Tower in November 2010
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| Location: | Victoria Street, Christchurch Central City |
| Coordinates: | |
| Built: | 1897 |
| Built for: | Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee |
| Rebuilt: | 1930 |
| Restored: | 2003–2004 |
| Architect: | Benjamin Mountfort |
| Governing body: | Christchurch City Council |
| Former New Zealand Historic Places Trust - Category I | |
| Official name: Victoria Clock Tower | |
| Delisted: | 2 April 1985 |
| Reference #: | 3670 |
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Location of Victoria Clock Tower in New Zealand Christchurch street
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The Victoria Clock Tower, also known as the Diamond Jubilee Clock Tower, is a heritage-registered clock tower located in Christchurch, New Zealand. Designed by Benjamin Mountfort, it is registered as a "Historic Place – Category I" by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
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Mountfort designed the clock tower in ca 1858, to be placed on top of the first (wooden) section of the Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings.[1] The iron tower and clock was constructed in Coventry and arrived in December 1860 in 147 boxes,[2] but it was determined that the building structure would be unable to support the tower's weight.[1] The clock was then placed in the stone tower of the Provincial Council Buildings in Armagh Street, and whilst its face could not be seen, the chime could be heard for a distance of 2 miles.[3] The clock was not in good repair, impacted by the sea journey, and it remained in the tower for a short time only.[4] The iron tower, meanwhile, stood for several years in the courtyard of the Provincial Council Buildings.[3]
With the abolition of Provincial Government in New Zealand in 1876, the clock tower became the property of the Crown, but it was transferred to Christchurch City Council.[5]
After being stored for 30 years in a council yard in Worcester Street, it was decided that the tower would be used as part of a monument to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. A competition for a stone tower was held and won by the local architecture firm of Strouts and Ballantyne. The clock was returned to the United Kingdom for renovation, and the addition of chimes.[6] In 1897 it was erected on a stone base at the intersection of Manchester Street, Lichfield Streets and High Streets and remained there until 1930 when it was removed due to it being deemed a traffic hazard and impediment.[1][7] The Hamilton Borough Council unsuccessfully tried to buy the clock tower at this point.[4]
It was relocated that year to its current location on a reserve at the intersection of Victoria and Montreal Streets and the clock was replaced.[1][7]
Restoration work was carried out in 1930 as part of the relocation.[8] Further restoration was carried out as a community project, financed by local businesses, in 1978.[4] More substantial renovation was carried out in 2003–2004, including earthquake strengthening. The middle section of the tower was braced with steel, and rods were inserted into the stonework. The renovation budget was NZ$295,000.[4][8]
On 2 April 1985, the clock tower was registered as a Category I heritage item, with the registration number being 3670. The tower is significant, as it is a landmark in Christchurch, and it was part of Mountfort's original design for the Provincial Council Buildings. The tower is further a remarkable example of High Victorian ironwork, and its use as a monument to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee are an indication of the colonial ties between New Zealand and Britain.[1]
The Clock tower was seriously damaged in the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, with the time (12:51) stopped on the clock's face. [1]
![[1]](http://cdn.cera.govt.nz/sites/cera.govt.nz/files/imagecache/photograph-default/ross_becker_photography/ROSS2597-1D4_pt.JPG){kind=link}