BUILDING'S HISTORY

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30846, 3 September 1965, Page 8

BUILDING'S HISTORY

The building which now houses Butterfield’s new furniture and carpet showroom was originally owned and occupied by W. Strange and Company, an oldestablished drapery and furnishing firm that started in Christchurch in the 1860’s.

This very extensive business was founded by Mr William Strange in small premises on Sumner road that later became a grocery shop. The firm quickly gained an excellent reputation and expanded rapidly. In 1822 Mr W. Strange retired from the business and turned his attentions to the field of agriculture, purchasing two sheep stations, one at Selwyn and one at Ashburton. He left the control of W. Strange and Company to his brother, Mr E. Strange. Ten years later Mr W. Strange returned to Christchurch and again took control of the business. At the same time he retained his two sheep stations. In 1894 Mr Covenjale, who had been allotted management of the business, was admitted to the firm as a full partner. The firm’s expansion continued to be very rapid, and in 1900 the building at the corner of High and Lichfield streets, now owned by Butterfields, was built. The construction was preceded by the demolition of a row of very dilapidated old shops that had been on the site since the very early days of the city. A contemporary author said “Where these old weatherboard shops once stood now stands ‘Strange’s’ furniture and furnishing warehouse a really fine corner building of four storeys in height which has not merely added immensely to the appearance of the firm’s premises, but constitutes a city improvement of a very striking character indeed.” At first W. Strange and Company were drapers only, but by the turn of the century the firm was also deeply involved in manufacturing, and actually produced many of the goods it sold. By 1902 the firm had a modern furniture factory complete with the latest

in labour-saving devices. This factory was sited immediately opposite the Christchurch railway station, and made furniture for sale in all parts of New Zealand.

Strange’s also had factories for making blinds, bedding, wire mattresses, an overcoat factory, and a factory for the making of ready-to-wear clothes. There was also a tailoring branch. The firm even sold crockery and pottery, boots and shoes, and was thus one of the early department stores of Christchurch. The firm had a London office staffed by accountants and buyers, and the latest in London goods was Zealand and the firm employed about 600 persons. At this time the business was the largest of its kind in New Zealand, and one of the largest in Australasia.

Strange’s continued to thrive and remained in the building until about 1926, when the firm terminated

its activities and sold the building to Messrs Armstrong and Finnerty. During the depression years the building was used as an army store, and

later some firms took leases of parts of the ground floor. In 1953 Strange and Company again became the owners of the building, and in 1956 Butterfields started operations in Christchurch quickly shipped to the New Zealand stores through this branch.

In the early part of this century Strange’s was a household word in New and moved in on part of the ground floor.

Now this firm has acquired the entire building, and has established its large 5000 sq ft furniture

and furnishings showroom on the second floor. There is, of course, plenty of room for further expansion when it is needed.

In the early 1950’s the directors, taking note of the expansion of Christchurch and realising its great potential as an industrial centre, decided to seek an opening in Christchurch, and moves were made in this direction. However is was more than two years before a suitable business became available. In 1956 the company of L. G. Amos Ltd., was purchased. Additional departments were added and a wider range of goods stocked. Under the energetic management of Mr R. R. MacDonald trading expanded at a very fast rate and the premises were bursting at the seams. Realising the need for additional space the company purchased the entire premises stretching from High street, to Lichfield street. Plans were drawn up to take over a section of

the building and to set up a large furniture and carpet showroom. The new showroom covers an area of 5000 square feet and will pro-

vide one of the best displays in Christchurch. Over the last few years the company has set up its own wholesale importing company and a finance

■ company. Today ft is one of the largest furnishing i houses in the South Island ; and probably the largest ; family-owned group in i New Zealand.