Michael Hart (mayor)

Michael Hart
Portrait of Michael Hart
7th Mayor of Christchurch
In office 18 December 1873 – 17 December 1874
Preceded by	Edward Bishop
Succeeded by	Fred Hobbs
Personal details
Born	c. 1814 Freshford, Somerset, England
Died	9 August 1878 Freshford House, Lichfield Street, Christchurch
Spouse(s)	Mary Anne Hart (d. 1866) Ellen Gardner (m. 1866)

Michael Brannan Hart (c. 1814 – 9 August 1878) was the of the White Hart Hotel in Christchurch, New Zealand, that stood on the corner of High and Cashel Streets. It was Christchurch's first hotel. Hart, originally from Freshford, Somerset, England, was one of the first settlers of Christchurch. He was a colourful character and stood for elections to the Canterbury Provincial Council and Parliament, but was unsuccessful. He was elected onto Christchurch City Council in 1869, and was chosen as Mayor of Christchurch 1873–1874 by his fellow councillors. He gave the first chain to the Christchurch mayoral chain. He was the first mayor to wear regalia, modelled on the robes of the Lord Mayor of London. He intended to leave the robes to Christchurch City Council, but after a disagreement, he changed his will and the robes were buried with him.

Hart was born probably in 1814 in Freshford, Somerset, England. His parents were Paul Hart (yeoman, later a shearer) and his wife Mary Brennan (m. 28 October 1804). He was a plumber before he emigrated.

Hart arrived in Lyttelton with his wife, Mary Ann Hart (née Swan), and their sons Michael Brannan (1843–1908) and George Robert (1841–1911) on the Cressy on 27 December 1850, one of the First Four Ships reaching Canterbury. He was briefly in business in Lyttelton as a plumber with Henry Allwright.

Hart and his family soon moved to Christchurch. Together with Charles Day of Sydney, he bought the block of land on the south-western side of High Street between Cashel Street and Lichfield Street. The family first lived on the site in a tent before Hart built an A-frame hut.

On the High Street (then called Sumner Road) and Cashel Street corner, Hart founded the White Hart, the first hotel in Christchurch. The hotel opened on 15 November 1851, less than a year after the organised settlement of Christchurch. On 16 December 1852, Hart catered for 150 guests who had assembled to farewell John Robert Godley, the founder of Canterbury who returned to England after his short stay in the colony. Hart bought out Day in September 1854 for ₤525. A new building was built on the site in 1866.