Chief Post Office, Christchurch
| Chief Post Office | |
|---|---|
The former Chief Post Office after the 2010 Canterbury earthquake
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| General information | |
| Type | Government, with some commercial enterprises |
| Architectural style | Italianate style with classical and Venetian Gothic elements |
| Location | Cathedral Square, Christchurch Central City |
| Address | 31 Cathedral Square |
| Town or city | Christchurch |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 43°31′54″S 172°38′09″E / 43.5316°S 172.6358°E |
| Current tenants | Christchurch Visitor Information Starbucks |
| Construction started | 24 May 1877 |
| Completed | 1878 |
| Renovated | 1907 |
| Owner | Chrystal Imports |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | two |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Henry Clayton |
| Main contractor | Daniel Reese |
| Designated | 2 April 1985 |
| Reference no. | 291 |
| References | |
| "Chief Post Office (Former)". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. | |
The Chief Post Office or Christchurch Central Post Office, originally known as the Government Building, is located in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, New Zealand. The building was initially a post office with other government services. Until the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, it was a Visitor Information Centre but has since been inaccessible, as access for the public to the central city has been removed. It was the site of the first telephone exchange in New Zealand. The structure is registered with Heritage New Zealand as a Category I heritage building.
The building is located at 31 Cathedral Square, and is situated in the Square's southwest corner. Footpaths and a cabstand were added after the post office opened. During the 1992 redesign and redevelopment process of the Square, the road in front of the former Chief Post Office was closed.
In 1863, the New Zealand House of Representatives noted an important change was to take place in Canterbury, in that Christchurch would replace Lyttelton as the principal post town. The General Government was renting several government buildings in Canterbury, some of which were inconveniently situated or badly constructed. Christchurch's first post office was very small, and located at Market Square, these days known as Victoria Square.
The Canterbury Provincial Council, with the sanction of the General Government, agreed to erect government buildings in Cathedral Square, opposite the Anglican Church's building site. A Bill passed in 1873 vested the site in the Crown. Plans were drawn by William Henry Clayton, the first (and only) Colonial Architect to New Zealand. Clayton had previously designed the (former) post office in Lyttelton, and that building, smaller but similar in style, is regarded as his "trial run" for the building in the Square. While it was agreed that the new building should accommodate the General Government, opinions differed on whether the construction should be ornamental. A prevailing motion approved that some regard ought to be paid to a little architectural finish.
The construction contract was awarded to Daniel Reese. The foundation stone was laid by Hon Edward Richardson, a Christchurch MP who until earlier in the year had been the first Minister of Public Works, on Queen's Birthday on 24 May 1877. The event was poorly attended, partly because no programme had been arranged beforehand. In his speech, Richardson reflected on the lengthy delay of starting construction, owing to the controversy about the building site. The mayor, Fred Hobbs, then used his address to lobby the attending members of parliament for a Resident Magistrate's Court (which was built in 1880/81). Since nobody came forward to speak afterwards, the crowd dispersed. Attendees of the ceremony were Bishop Harper, MHR William Rolleston, MHR Edward Stevens and MHR William Montgomery.
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