- Victoria Clock Tower
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Victoria Clock Tower 
Victoria Clock Tower in November 2010Location: Victoria Street, Christchurch Central City Coordinates: 43°31′29.05″S 172°37′50.7″E / 43.5247361°S 172.63075°ECoordinates: 43°31′29.05″S 172°37′50.7″E / 43.5247361°S 172.63075°E Built: 1897 Built for: Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Rebuilt: 1930 Restored: 2003–2004 Architect: Benjamin Mountfort Governing body: Christchurch City Council Former New Zealand Historic Places Trust - Category I Official name: Victoria Clock Tower Delisted: 2 April 1985 Reference #: 3670 
Location of Victoria Clock Tower in New Zealand Christchurch streetThe Victoria Clock Tower, also known as the Diamond Jubilee Clock Tower, is a heritage-registered clock tower located in Christchurch, New Zealand. Designed by Benjamin Mountfort, it is registered as a "Historic Place – Category I" by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
Contents
History
Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings
The clock was first placed in the stone tower of the Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings
Mountfort designed the clock tower in ca 1858, to be placed on top of the first (wooden) section of the Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings.[1] The iron tower and clock was constructed in Coventry and arrived in December 1860 in 147 boxes,[2] but it was determined that the building structure would be unable to support the tower's weight.[1] The clock was then placed in the stone tower of the Provincial Council Buildings in Armagh Street, and whilst its face could not be seen, the chime could be heard for a distance of 2 miles.[3] The clock was not in good repair, impacted by the sea journey, and it remained in the tower for a short time only.[4] The iron tower, meanwhile, stood for several years in the courtyard of the Provincial Council Buildings.[3]
With the abolition of Provincial Government in New Zealand in 1876, the clock tower became the property of the Crown, but it was transferred to Christchurch City Council.[5]
High / Manchester intersection
Victoria Clock Tower, photographed from the intersection of Manchester Street and Bedford Row, looking in a south-west direction.After being stored for 30 years in a council yard in Worcester Street, it was decided that the tower would be used as part of a monument to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. A competition for a stone tower was held and won by the local architecture firm of Strouts and Ballantyne. The clock was returned to the United Kingdom for renovation, and the addition of chimes.[6] In 1897 it was erected on a stone base at the intersection of Manchester Street, Lichfield Streets and High Streets and remained there until 1930 when it was removed due to it being deemed a traffic hazard and impediment.[1][7] The Hamilton Borough Council unsuccessfully tried to buy the clock tower at this point.[4]
Montreal / Victoria intersection
It was relocated that year to its current location on a reserve at the intersection of Victoria and Montreal Streets and the clock was replaced.[1][7]
Restoration work was carried out in 1930 as part of the relocation.[8] Further restoration was carried out as a community project, financed by local businesses, in 1978.[4] More substantial renovation was carried out in 2003–2004, including earthquake strengthening. The middle section of the tower was braced with steel, and rods were inserted into the stonework. The renovation budget was NZ$295,000.[4][8]
Heritage listing
On 2 April 1985, the clock tower was registered as a Category I heritage item, with the registration number being 3670. The tower is significant, as it is a landmark in Christchurch, and it was part of Mountfort's original design for the Provincial Council Buildings. The tower is further a remarkable example of High Victorian ironwork, and its use as a monument to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee are an indication of the colonial ties between New Zealand and Britain.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Victoria Clock Tower". The Register. New Zealand Historic PlacesTrust. http://www.historic.org.nz/TheRegister/RegisterSearch/RegisterResults.aspx?RID=3670. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
- ^ "Christchurch – a chronology". Christchurch City Libraries. http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Chronology/Year/1860.asp. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
- ^ a b "The clock tower, Christchurch". Christchurch City Libraries. http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Photos/Disc14/IMG0019.asp. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
- ^ a b c d Smith, Brent (9 April 2003). "Reallocation of Funds to Victoria Street Clock Restoration" (PDF). Christchurch City Council. http://www1.ccc.govt.nz/Council/Agendas/2003/April/ParksGardens/ReallocationofFunds.pdf. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
- ^ "Burke Manuscript". Christchurch City Libraries. p. 72. http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Digitised/Burke/Burke72.asp. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
- ^ "The clock tower – Laying of the foundation stone". Star (6049). 10 December 1897. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TS18971210.2.17. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
- ^ a b "Diamond Jubilee Clock Tower". Christchurch City Council. http://www.ccc.govt.nz/cityleisure/artsculture/artinthecity/clocks/diamondjubileeclock.aspx. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
- ^ a b "Jubilee Clock / Victoria Clock Tower". Christchurch City Libraries. http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Places/Memorials/JublieeClock/. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
Categories:- Buildings and structures in Christchurch
- NZHPT Category I listings in the Canterbury Region
- Clock towers
- Visitor attractions in Christchurch
- 2011 Christchurch earthquake
- Christchurch Central City
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