The Old Government Building is a heritage building in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was designed by Joseph Maddison in 1909 for use by government departments.[1] It is a Category I heritage building listed with Heritage New Zealand.
Old Government Building | |
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General information | |
Architectural style | Italian High Renaissance palazzo |
Location | Christchurch Central City |
Address | 98 Worcester St |
Town or city | Christchurch |
Country | New Zealand |
Coordinates | 43°31′52″S 172°38′17″E / 43.53106°S 172.638075°E |
Construction started | 1910 |
Completed | 1913 |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Joseph Maddison |
Awards and prizes | Canterbury Heritage Awards – Seismic category winner in 2012 and Built Heritage Award winner in 2010 |
Designated | 5 April 1984 |
Reference no. | 301 |
The building was designed to centralise various government departments in Christchurch that had previously been housed in the Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings and other rented spaces throughout the city.[2][3] The Government Building opened in 1913 and housed various Government departments up until the 1980s. The last Government department to occupy the building was the Ministry of Works and Development.[1] After being vacant for some time the building was threatened to be demolished in 1991. On 11 July 1991 the Christchurch City Council purchased the building from the government for $735,000. The council then sold it to the ‘Symphony Group’ in 1995 and it was converted into a hotel with the conditions to strengthen and conserve the building.[1][4] It is now home to the Heritage Hotel Christchurch and the bar O.G.B.[5][6]