Old Government Building, Christchurch

Historic building in Christchurch, New Zealand

43°31′52″S 172°38′17″E / 43.53106°S 172.638075°E / -43.53106; 172.638075Construction started1910Completed1913Design and constructionArchitect(s)Joseph MaddisonAwards and prizesCanterbury Heritage Awards – Seismic category winner in 2012 and Built Heritage Award winner in 2010

Heritage New Zealand – Category 1

Designated5 April 1984Reference no.301

The Old Government Building is a heritage building in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was designed by Joseph Maddison in 1909 for use by government departments.^[1] It is a Category I heritage building listed with Heritage New Zealand.

History

The building was designed to centralise various government departments in Christchurch that had previously been housed in the Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings and other rented spaces throughout the city.^[2]^[3] The Government Building opened in 1913 and housed various Government departments up until the 1980s. The last Government department to occupy the building was the Ministry of Works and Development.^[1] After being vacant for some time the building was threatened to be demolished in 1991. On 11 July 1991 the Christchurch City Council purchased the building from the government for $735,000. The council then sold it to the ‘Symphony Group’ in 1995 and it was converted into a hotel with the conditions to strengthen and conserve the building.^[1]^[4] It is now home to the Heritage Hotel Christchurch and the bar O.G.B.^[5]^[6]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Old Government Building, Christchurch.

^ ^a ^b ^c "Old Government Building". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
^ "The architectural heritage of Christchurch. 5. Government Buildings" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
^ "Search the List | Canterbury Provincial Government Buildings | Heritage New Zealand". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
^ "Heritage Christchurch Foundation Laid – 1911". Discover The Delights Of Peeling Back History. 1 January 1911. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
^ "Heritage Christchurch". Heritage Hotels. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
^ "OGB Cafe & Bar, Christchurch NZ". OGB Bar & Cafe. Retrieved 17 February 2017.

Christchurch earthquakes

Earthquakes

Located in or near Christchurch	June 1869 September 2010 Boxing Day 2010 February 2011 June 2011 December 2011 February 2016
Located elsewhere causing damage in Christchurch	1855 Wairarapa 1881 Castle Hill 1888 North Canterbury 1901 Cheviot 1922 Motunau 2016 Kaikōura

Buildings

Lost	Bus Exchange Christchurch Central Library Te Pae Convention Centre Crowne Plaza The Civic Clarendon Tower Cranmer Centre Cranmer Court CTV Building Durham Street Methodist Church Excelsior Hotel Guthrey Centre Hornby Clocktower Hotel Grand Chancellor Linwood House Lyttelton Borough Council Chambers Lyttelton Road Tunnel Administration Building Lyttelton Times Building Majestic Theatre Manchester Courts Oxford Terrace Baptist Church PGC building Press Building St John's Church St Luke's Church St Paul's Church Warner's Hotel Weston House Westpac Canterbury Centre Wharetiki House
Demolition	Implosion of Radio Network House Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Central Police Station Lancaster Park Music Centre of Christchurch Twinkle Toes
Damaged with uncertain future	Antonio Hall Odeon Theatre
Remaining	Antigua Boat Sheds Arts Centre (Dux de Lux, Registry Building) Bridge of Remembrance Canterbury Club Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings Chief Post Office Christchurch Art Gallery Christ Church Cathedral Christchurch Club St Michael Church Citizens' War Memorial City Mall Curator's House Forsyth Barr Building Godley Statue Isaac Theatre Royal Knox Church McDougall Art Gallery McLean's Mansion Midland Club Building New Brighton Pier New Regent Street Lyttelton Timeball Station Old Government Building Our City Peterborough Centre Public Trust Building Riccarton House Rolleston Statue Scott Statue Shand's Emporium Sign of the Kiwi St Saviour's Chapel Town Hall Trinity Congregational Church Victoria Clock Tower Victoria Mansions Worcester Chambers
New	185 empty chairs (unofficial memorial) Cardboard Cathedral Christchurch Catholic Cathedral Pallet Pavilion Re:START
Lists	historic places tall buildings

Land

Categories	Central City Red Zone Residential red zone (East Lake) TC3
Suburbs worst affected	Central City Avonside Avondale Dallington Bexley Southshore Brooklands Kaiapoi

People

Associated with earthquakes	Ann Brower Gerry Brownlee Kaila Colbin Clayton Cosgrove Ruth Dyson Antony Gough John Hamilton Andrew Holden Warwick Isaacs Sam Johnson André Lovatt Neil MacLean Tony Marryatt John Ombler Bob Parker Nigel Priestley Mark Quigley Alan Reay Ken Ring Gerald Shirtcliff Roger Sutton Deon Swiggs Coralie Winn
Died in earthquake	Jo Giles Amanda Hooper

Recovery Plan

(1) The Frame (Margaret Mahy Playground)
(2) Te Pae Convention Centre
(3) Christchurch Stadium
(4) Metro Sports Facility
(5) Bus Interchange
(6) Avon River Precinct
(7) Te Puna Ahurea Cultural Centre
(8) The Square
(9) Performing Arts Precinct
(10) Justice and Emergency Services Precinct
(11) Health Precinct
(12) Cricket Oval
(13) Residential Demonstration Project
(14) Tūranga (Central Library)
(15) Innovation Precinct
(16) Retail Precinct
Earthquake Memorial (official)

Organisations

Public sector	CCDU CERA Christchurch City Council Civil Defence Regenerate Christchurch SCIRT Selwyn District Council Waimakariri District Council
Private and voluntary sector	Farmy Army Gap Filler Greening the Rubble Ministry of Awesome Student Volunteer Army The Press