With a vision to build a "Better Britain," 19th century colonial settlers to New Zealand constructed government buildings reminiscent of those in London, combining the English Gothic Revival style with local flourishes. (...)
With a vision to build a "Better Britain," 19th century colonial settlers to New Zealand constructed government buildings reminiscent of those in London, combining the English Gothic Revival style with local flourishes. The offices, towers, and council chambers were built of timber and stone and served as the seat of the Provincial Government of Canterbury until 1867, after which time the complex was used as governmental offices. The buildings, designed by architect Benjamin Mountfort, remained largely unchanged throughout the twentieth century, and make up one of the earliest Gothic Revival complexes of government buildings in the world.
The evolution of the structures, in both form and function, reflect the history of Christchurch from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. In recent years the complex has been open to the public for tourism, educational use, and events, many of which were held in the exquisite High Victorian Stone Chamber. The devastating earthquakes in September 2010 and February 2011 severely damaged the Stone Chamber and reduced much of the complex to ruins. The entire complex has been closed for safety reasons since February 2011. The Canterbury Provincial Government Buildings were placed on the 2012 World Monuments Watch.
