Civic, Christchurch
| Civic | |
|---|---|
The Civic in 2009
|
|
| General information | |
| Type | Former civic offices |
| Location | Christchurch Central City |
| Address | 194–198 Manchester Street |
| Town or city | Christchurch |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 43°31′49″S 172°38′24″E / 43.5303°S 172.6399°E |
| Construction started | 14 March 1900 |
| Inaugurated | 1 November 1900 |
| Renovated | 1922–1924 |
| Demolished | 2011 |
| Client | Christchurch City Council |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | two |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Clarkson & Ballantyne |
| Main contractor | Rennie and Pearce |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect | Greenstreet and Anderson |
| Renovating firm | W. Williamson |
| Designated | 26-Nov-1981 |
| Reference no. | 1870 |
| References | |
| "Civic". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. | |
 The horseshoe shaped customer desk in the Civic in 1979
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The Civic in Manchester Street, Christchurch Central City, was one of the former civic buildings of Christchurch City Council (CCC). Built in 1900, it was first used as an exhibition hall, a cinema and then a theatre. It burned down in 1917. The northern part of the building was purchased by CCC and opened as the civic office in 1924, and served this purpose until 1980. After that it had several uses, including a restaurant, bar and live music venue. The building was heavily damaged in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, has had its frontage removed and is on the list of buildings to be demolished.
The Civic was a Category II heritage building registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
The Agricultural and Industrial Hall, also known as the Canterbury Hall, was built in 1900 at 192–194 Manchester Street. The foundation stone was laid by Mayor William Reece on 14 March 1900. William Albert Paxton Clarkson and Robert Anderson Ballantyne, architects trading as Clarkson & Ballantyne, designed the building for the 50th jubilee of Christchurch, celebrating the arrival of the First Four Ships in December 1850. The contractors were Rennie and Pearce. The Canterbury Industrial Association, a branch of the New Zealand Industrial Association, was the driving force behind the building. Together with the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, an Agricultural and Industrial Hall Company was formed that owned the building.Samuel Brown, the president of the New Zealand Industrial Association, called it "possibly the finest hall in New Zealand".
The building was formally opened on 1 November 1900 by the Mayoress, Mrs Reece. Later that afternoon, the Governor, The Earl of Ranfurly, opened the jubilee exhibition. The Premier's party consisted of Richard Seddon, Joseph Ward and families. The day was declared as a public holiday from noon.
The exhibition covered 74,000 square feet (6,900 m2) and took up two thirds of the city block described by Manchester, Gloucester, Worcester Streets and Latimer Square. It closed on 31 January 1901, having been visited by nearly 250,000 people, with a surplus of £3000.
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