Exhibitions & Displays
Past meets the present – a feat of engineering
Enjoy the rare opportunity to see up close the size and scale of an extraordinary feature of one of Christchurch and New Zealand’s most historically significant buildings.
After 145 years towering over its Central City location, Canterbury Provincial Council Building’s huge central chimney has been removed from its dizzying heights. This is so stabilisation work can take place following the Canterbury Earthquake.
The chimney will be reinstated at a later date.
The Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings are the only purpose-built provincial government Buildings still in existence in New Zealand. Designed by Canterbury’s leading Gothic Revival architect Benjamin Mountfort, the Buildings were constructed in stages between 1858-1865.
Monday – Saturday, 10.30am-3.30pm
Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings, Corner Armagh and Durham Street
FREE
Enter at the Armagh Street entrance.
Parking available in Farmers Car Park. First hour free.
www.ccc.govt.nz/cityleisure/artsculture/canterburyprovincialcouncilbuildings/index.aspx
Stained Heritage – Etched Patterns
This exhibition highlights the distinctive architecture and stained glass windows of the Arts Centre. The artworks are etched and painted on slate roof tiles. Come along to Annies Wine Bar and view the works on display.
Friday 1 – Sunday 31 October, 10am-10pm
Annies Wine Bar, The Arts Centre, Central City
FREE
Disability access
Open Church, with Special Heritage Displays
The early settlers first established a church on this site in 1851. The present church dates from 1872 and has a rich history. Browse or be guided through St Michael and All Angels Church – a unique historic building, with a rich interior and superb stained glass features.
Church and School were at the centre of the lives of the early settlers and St Michael and All Angels was the first Parish Church, School, and Vicarage of the Christchurch settlement. St Michael's is a Group 1 listed heritage building, and includes the belfry, the church and the old stone classroom. A full programme of events is available on the church website or by phoning (03) 379 5236.
Daily: 11am-2pm
St Michael and All Angels Church, 90 Oxford Terrace
FREE
Disability access
Some on-site parking for this event, plus free parking on some nearby streets
City's Edge: A pictorial review of the development of the University of Canterbury, 1960 – 1975 Online Exhibition
Enjoy an online pictorial exhibition of the innovative building developments at the University of Canterbury at Ilam during the 1960s and 1970s. See models and aerial perspectives of the various stages of development and view the original beauty of the buildings in a country landscape – once on the city's edge and now located well within the cities boundaries.
Daily: click here to view
FREE
City Start Exhibition
Visit the iconic ChristChurch Cathedral and enjoy an engaging large format image exhibition portraying the building from which the city of Christchurch gets its name. Through the Cathedral's existence, Christchurch received status as a City, making it the first city in New Zealand.
Daily: 9.30am-5pm
Christchurch Cathedral, 100 Cathedral Square, Central City
FREE
Disability access
No parking available on site
Settlers, Squatters and Surveyors Online Exhibition
The Christchurch Regional Office of Archives New Zealand holds a wealth of resources on the settlement of Christchurch, Canterbury and Westland; this exhibition will showcase some of these.
Friday 22 October – click here to view
FREE
Views from the Horizon: windows on the settlement of our region – Cantage Online Exhibition
View this collaborative digital exhibition from CANTAGE (Canterbury Heritage) – a network of local historical organisations highlighting the Heritage Week theme of settlement, discovery and adventure.
This will remain a permanent exhibition online.
Friday 22 October – click here to view
FREE
Charting the Long Harbour
An exhibition of early maps and charts of Akaroa Harbour from the first ten years of European settlement. It will illustrate the fluid nature of place-names, which changed from Ma-ori to French to English and sometimes back again. Exhibition extends beyond Beca Heritage Week.
Friday 22 October, 10:30am-4:30pm
Akaroa Museum, 71 Rue Lavaud, Akaroa
Adult $4, Child $1, Student/Senior Citizen $3.50, Family Pass $8
Disability access
Discover Harewood – Development and Early Settlers
Spend an hour or so browsing through displays of early settlement in Harewood and discover the development of a community. Take a conducted tour through the cemetery where early settlers are buried, visit the lovely little church of St James where a bell brought out on the "Cressy" still calls people to worship every Sunday and see the beautifully carved altar and lectern donated in memory of Harewood's early settlers. Tea and coffee available.
Saturday 23 October, 10:30am-4pm
St James Anglican Church & Hall, 750 Harewood Road
HarewoodFREE
Disability access
Parking available at the back of St James Church on Whitchurch Place & Harewood Road
On the Horizon – Whaling and Cocksfooting
Discover how Little River and Southern Bays were established through the whaling industry and cocksfooting. Come and view the display of photographs and tools of the trade.
Sunday 24 October, 9am-4:30pm
Little River Historic Railway Station
SH 75 Christchurch – Akaroa Road, Little RiverFREE
Disability access
Christchurch RSA – New Zealand's First
The Christchurch RSA was the first to be opened in New Zealand in 1915 and will be celebrating its 100th Centenary in 2015. All are welcome to come along to the Christchurch RSA and view memorabilia on display in our museum and clubrooms. Explore the RSA's history through old photos and WWI and other memorabilia. Relax in our restaurant after your look around with a nice cup of tea and scone for $5 or lunch/dinner.
Tuesday 26 – Saturday 30 October, 11am-8pm
Christchurch RSA, 74 Armagh Street
FREE
Disability access
Paper, People and Places: Part 1 – Journey to a New Land
The Samarang was the last ship of the Canterbury Association, arriving in July 1852. Six volumes of the ship's weekly newspaper, Soottee Sammee, are held in the Terrace Station Archive and will be the basis for a talk on the dreams and aspirations of some of the early settlers. These and other items from the 1850s will be on display. Kate Foster will read extracts from diaries of her great grandfather, John Hall, and from the Soottee Sammee. Readings at 12.30pm and 1.30pm.
Tuesday 26 October, 12pm-2pm
Mona Vale Homestead, Magnolia Suite
FREE
The Homestead is a café restaurant which is open during the day from 9.30am - 5pm should people wish to stay for lunch or a coffee before or after the event.
Paper, People and Places: Part 2 – Political Success in a Young Colony
The success of the Women's Suffrage Movement culminated in New Zealand being the first country in the world where women could vote in parliamentary elections. Associated ephemera will be on display at 83 Clyde Road, the former residence of Kate Sheppard. The parliamentary leader of the Campaign was Sir John Hall and his great grand-daughter, Kate Foster, will speak of his family's involvement. Part 3 of the series will be held on Sunday 31 October.
Thursday 28 October, 7.30pm-8.30pm
83 Clyde Rd, Ilam
FREE
Please book by phoning Kate on (03) 318 0756 or katefoster@xtra.co.nz prior to midday Thursday
Belfast Big Bang
Belfast Historical Memorabilia Display. As part of our 2010 Community celebrations in Belfast, we invite you to come and view our wonderful display of local history and treasures. Come along and be part of our heritage and then enjoy the celebration of our Big Bang event in Sheldon to celebrate the start of Neighbourhood Week.
Friday 29 October, 4pm-8pm
Belfast Bowling Club, Sheldon Park, Main North Road
BelfastFREE
Disability access
Archaeological Dig at the Lyttelton Timeball Station
Have you ever wanted to know what Indiana Jones really got up to? Join the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and local archaeologist Katharine Watson from Underground Overground Archaeology to watch a live excavation. The site of the Timeball Signalman's Hut (1934) will be excavated and you are invited you to view the unearthing of history. Katherine and NZHPT archaeologist Frank van der Heijden are hoping to find the foundations of the hut and artefacts used by the occupants. Who knows what they might uncover! The afternoon will consist of archaeology activities for the kids, sausage sizzle and afternoon tea, tours of Timeball Station, presentations on local archaeology and an opportunity to explore the site's artefacts. What to bring: A sense of adventure and a taste for discovery!
Sunday 31 October, 1pm-4pm
Timeball Station, 2 Reserve Terrace, Lyttelton
Free to view the dig and attend the presentations.
Timeball Entry: Adult $7 (discounted entry for this event), Children Free
On and off street parking available. 11 parking spaces are available in the carpark below the Timeball Station. There is very limited parking on Reserve Tce and Sumner Rd but ample parking is available in Lyttelton township which is a short ten minute walk up the hill to the Timeball.
Numbers 28 and 35 buses travel to Lyttelton from the central bus exchange.
