Canterbury Museum, Christchurch

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For other museums of this name, see Canterbury Museum.
Canterbury Museum

Canterbury Museum
General information
Type Museum
Architectural style Gothic Revival
Location Christchurch, New Zealand
Address Rolleston Avenue
Completed 1882
Inaugurated 1870 (first part of building)
Renovated mid 1990s
Design and construction
Architect Benjamin Mountfort
Designated: 25 September 1986
Reference No. 290

The Canterbury Museum is a museum located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand in the city's Cultural Precinct.[1] The museum was established in 1867 with Julius Haast - whose collection formed its core - as its first director.[2] The building is registered as a "Historic Place - Category I " by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.[3]

Construction

The building, a Gothic Revival constructed on a design by Benjamin Mountfort, opened in 1870.[2] Two years after its opening, the single-storey building was expanded with an additional floor in the Victorian Gothic style. The museum continued to grow over the next decade, with an addition built on in 1876 and an interior courtyard roofed in 1882. In 1958, a new wing was added adjacent to Christ's College, and another was built on in 1977. The building was strengthened in the mid-1990s and a four-storey block was added in 1995.

Earthquake impact

The museum sustained minor damage to its façade during the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, but remains structurally sound. This can perhaps be attributed to the progressive strengthening and renovating of the buildings to earthquake standards between 1987 and 1995.[4] An estimated 95% of the collections were unharmed.[5] The statue of William Rolleston, located at the front of the museum, toppled off its plinth during the quake.[6] The museum reopened on 2 September 2011.[2][5]

Gallery

  • The building was designed by Benjamin Mountfort and completed in 1882.

  • Historic oblique view of the building.

References

  1. ↑ Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, Virtual Tourist.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "The Canterbury Museum". Canterbury Museum. Retrieved 13 April 2013. 
  3. ↑ "Canterbury Museum (19th century portion)". The Register. New Zealand Historic PlacesTrust. Retrieved 27 February 2011. 
  4. ↑ "The Canterbury Museum". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 31 August 2011. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Charlie Gates and Christopher Moore. "Christchurch Art Gallery built to highest standard". The Press. Retrieved 31 August 2011. 
  6. ↑ Saunders, Kate (28 February 2011). "Broken City". Taranaki Daily News. Retrieved 5 March 2011. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Canterbury Museum.

Coordinates: 43°31′51″S 172°37′38″E / 43.5309°S 172.6271°E / -43.5309; 172.6271

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