Canterbury Museum
Encyclopedia
The Canterbury Museum is a museum
located in the central city
of Christchurch
, New Zealand
in the city's Cultural Precinct.
The museum was established in 1867 and has since grown in size to encompass New Zealand's diverse natural and human heritage. The first director of the museum, Julius Haast, formed the basis of the museum's collection whereby through the process of "Exchanges, mainly of moa bones and bird skins, with overseas museums .... Haast ... form[ed] the basis of Canterbury Museum’s collection, and in his day it was probably the leading museum in the Southern Hemisphere." The Museum has become a widely-renowned and an internationally-visited institution. The Museum has more than two million collection items and specialises in the stories of early Maori, Europe
an settlement and Antarctic
exploration.
The original building was first opened in 1870 to the specifications of the renowned architect Benjamin Mountfort
and as such is one of a number of integral Gothic Revival
public buildings in Christchurch
, which were designed by Mountfort. The original museum was a single space of 21.3 m in length and 10.6 m in width and contained a gallery which was supported by kauri columns, much like the Victorian
museums of the day. The exterior of the museum was constructed of grey basalt from the relatively nearby Halswell Quarry. There were further additions made to the museum following its inauguration in 1870 with the addition of a southern, two-storey wing in the Victorian Gothic style
in 1872 and a substantial addition facing Rolleston Avenue in 1876. An internal courtyard of the museum was roofed in in 1882 following which, no further additions were made until 1958. In 1958 the Rolleston Avenue frontage of the museum was extended in addition to the creation of a new wing adjacent to Christ's College
. A further extension to the museum, named the Roger Duff Wing, was opened in 1977 by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and now houses the museum's Antarctic collection. Most recently, in 1995, a four-storey block was inaugurated as a part of the Museum's 125th Anniversary, it contains an Exhbitions Court. Finally, a significant restoration, refurbishment, upgrade and structural strengthening programme was realised in the mid-1990s. The building is registered as a "Historic Place - Category I " by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
.
The museum sustained minor damage to its facade during the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, but remains structurally sound. This incredible result can perhaps be attributed to the progressive strengthening and renovating of the buildings to earthquake standards between 1987 and 1995. An estimated 95% of the collections were unharmed. The statue of William Rolleston
, located at the front of the museum, toppled off its plinth during the quake.
The museum reopened on 2 September 2011 following its closure.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
located in the central city
Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City is the geographical centre and the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is defined as the area within the four avenues and thus includes the densely built up central city, some less dense surrounding areas of residential, educational and industrial usage, and green...
of Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in the city's Cultural Precinct.
The museum was established in 1867 and has since grown in size to encompass New Zealand's diverse natural and human heritage. The first director of the museum, Julius Haast, formed the basis of the museum's collection whereby through the process of "Exchanges, mainly of moa bones and bird skins, with overseas museums .... Haast ... form[ed] the basis of Canterbury Museum’s collection, and in his day it was probably the leading museum in the Southern Hemisphere." The Museum has become a widely-renowned and an internationally-visited institution. The Museum has more than two million collection items and specialises in the stories of early Maori, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an settlement and Antarctic
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
exploration.
The original building was first opened in 1870 to the specifications of the renowned architect Benjamin Mountfort
Benjamin Mountfort
Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort was an English emigrant to New Zealand, where he became one of that country's most prominent 19th century architects. He was instrumental in shaping the city of Christchurch's unique architectural identity and culture, and was appointed the first official Provincial...
and as such is one of a number of integral Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
public buildings in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, which were designed by Mountfort. The original museum was a single space of 21.3 m in length and 10.6 m in width and contained a gallery which was supported by kauri columns, much like the Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
museums of the day. The exterior of the museum was constructed of grey basalt from the relatively nearby Halswell Quarry. There were further additions made to the museum following its inauguration in 1870 with the addition of a southern, two-storey wing in the Victorian Gothic style
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
in 1872 and a substantial addition facing Rolleston Avenue in 1876. An internal courtyard of the museum was roofed in in 1882 following which, no further additions were made until 1958. In 1958 the Rolleston Avenue frontage of the museum was extended in addition to the creation of a new wing adjacent to Christ's College
Christ's College
Christ's College is a name shared by several educational establishments. Among them are:* Christ's College, Aberdeen, in Scotland* Christ's College, Cambridge, one of the constituent Colleges of the University of Cambridge, England...
. A further extension to the museum, named the Roger Duff Wing, was opened in 1977 by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and now houses the museum's Antarctic collection. Most recently, in 1995, a four-storey block was inaugurated as a part of the Museum's 125th Anniversary, it contains an Exhbitions Court. Finally, a significant restoration, refurbishment, upgrade and structural strengthening programme was realised in the mid-1990s. The building is registered as a "Historic Place - Category I " by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
.
The museum sustained minor damage to its facade during the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, but remains structurally sound. This incredible result can perhaps be attributed to the progressive strengthening and renovating of the buildings to earthquake standards between 1987 and 1995. An estimated 95% of the collections were unharmed. The statue of William Rolleston
Rolleston Statue
The Rolleston Statue is a white marble statue situated outside Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand. It commemorates William Rolleston, who was Superintendent of the Canterbury Province from 1868 until 1877.-History:...
, located at the front of the museum, toppled off its plinth during the quake.
The museum reopened on 2 September 2011 following its closure.