Educational use for old G.H.S.

Press, 12 September 1986, Page 9

Educational use for old G.H.S.

The main block and hall of the former Christchurch Girls’ High School in Cranmer Square will not be sold by the Government to. help defray the cost of the new school in Matai Street, Riccarton. As expected, the Government has decided to transfer the historic buildings to a new community trust which will ensure that they are used for educational and cultural purposes. The Minister of Education, Mr Marshall, announced yesterday that the Lands and Survey Department would transfer

the old buildings by lease through the Christchurch Civic Trust to a separate trust. About 50 applications for use of the buildings had been made and these would be passed to the trust, said Mr Marshall. Part of the buildings would be retained for use by the Education Department and Canterbury Education Board. The old classrooms and hall, at the corner of Armagh Street and Montreal Street were designed by W. B. Armson in 1880. They stand on part of the old school site, which has a total area of B.4ha.

Mr Marshall said that the rest of the site which includes tennis courts, a three-storey science block, about 20 classrooms, and a swimming pool, would be disposed of. The chairman of the Civic Trust, Mr J. BrandtsGiessen, said he was delighted with the news. As soon as the trust had received official confirmation of the Government’s decision it would set up a trust along the lines of the Arts Centre trust and examine what needed to be done to the buildings. The trust would consult widely.