No movement without the site

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33034, 29 September 1972, Page 28

No movement without the site

Far more time and •worry was expended on the choice of a site for the Town Hall than in considering the actual building. The building itself was largely decided through a design competition; but first the site had to be settled.

The one decision the City Council made which cleared the way for agreement on the site was to call in an outside consultant. Eminence and impartiality were the two qualities most needed in the consultant if his views were to put an end to the wrangling. These qualities were in fact secured. Until the consultant delivered his judgment a constant civic tug-o’-war prevailed and letters to the

editor were in full spate. It was not long before a poll was being suggested as the only way out of the impasse.

In May, 1961, the British town planner, Sir William Holford, was invited to come to Christchurch to advise. He accepted the invitation but was never able to give a firm date When it was seen that he could not visit Christchurch until June, 1963, the Perth expert, Professor Gordon Stephenson was invited in his 'stead.

In August, 1962, Professor Stephenson, visited Christchurch for a week. On October 10 his report was released; he had recommended “The Limes” site. The Civic Centre plan here included the closing of the south end of Victoria Street.

Thirteen specific alternative sites for a Town Hall were considered by Professor Gordon Stephenson while he was in Christ-

church and he considered others on the map and on tours.

Halfway through his visit he kept returning to Vic-

toria Square as the site with the greatest potential, he said.

“There were by then only three alternative sites in my mind. The two others weakened as the time for decision drew near.” The final three sites were the Latimer Square block, the Library block which includes the Canterbury Club and which had been adopted previously by the City Council as a town hall site, and the Victoria Square site. Listing the factors he had taken into account, Professor Stephenson said it was essential that the town hall should be within easy reach of the heart of the city.

It should be relatively easy for public transport passengers to reach the town hall, convenient for cyclists and pedestrians and be away from areas of maximum congestion for access by private car.

During the next century the population of the city region would probably approach one million and the greatest part of its growth must be towards the west, he said. Already one had the feeling that the city as well as the Cathedral looked towards the west. In his detailed examination of the Victoria Square site, Professor Stephenson said many historic towns had two main squares, one containing the cathedral, the other a market place with contiguous civic and commercial buildings. “In Fook’s map of Christchurch, published in 1862, Cathedral Square is shown without the great church which was to be built later, but the market place, now Victoria Square, is to be seen as a centre of activity,” he said.

“In addition to open spaces for the market, there were buildings for

public works, immigratior police, the Post Office an a barracks.”

The map was also a re minder that the Provincia Government already occu pied a group of buildings in the south-west comer of the market place. This group remained an important historic and architectural monument. In 1866 a section of the market place on the western bank of the Avon was gazetted as Crown land. This meant closing a road, and it was a prelude to the development “of the fascinating group of Court buildings.”

By the Christchurch City Reserves Act of 1877, land bordering the Avon was dedicated for public enjoyment. “It now forms a delightful park system meandering through central Christchurch and it is the most distinctive element in the composition of the city,” Professor Stephenson said.