Worcester Chambers

Summary

The Worcester Chambers, recently also known as Gough Chambers, is a heritage building in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was designed by Cecil Wood in 1926 and is designated as a Category II heritage building registered by Heritage New Zealand.[1][2] Located at 69 Worcester Street in Central Christchurch, it was originally the site of a secretarial school called Digby's Commercial College.[3]

Worcester Chambers
Worcester Chambers in 2007
Map
General information
TypeOffice building
Architectural styleGeorgian revival
LocationChristchurch Central City
Address69 Worcester Boulevard
Town or cityChristchurch
CountryNew Zealand
Coordinates43°31′51″S 172°37′56″E / 43.53072°S 172.63229°E / -43.53072; 172.63229
Completed1927
OwnerGerard and Siu-Wai McCoy
Design and construction
Architect(s)Cecil Wood
Designated26 November 1981
Reference no.1950

2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes edit

As a result of earthquake strengthening in 2007 it withstood the Canterbury earthquakes in 2010 and 2011.

 
The Chambers in August 2011

Owners edit

In September 2015, the building was bought for NZ$2.3m by members of the Gough family: prominent businessman Tracy Gough and two of this children, including Christchurch City Councillor Jamie Gough.[4] The new owners renamed the building Gough Chambers.[5] Although they dropped the rent,[5] they were unable to find tenants and sold the building in late 2016 for NZ$2.18m to lawyer Gerard McCoy and his wife Siu-Wai McCoy.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ "Search the List | Worcester Chambers | Heritage New Zealand". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Worcester Chambers | Canterbury Heritage Awards". www.heritageawards.co.nz. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Central City Heritage Guide" (PDF). Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  4. ^ Law, Tina (9 September 2015). "Christchurch councillor Jamie Gough plans to restore $2.3 million heritage building". The Press. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  5. ^ a b Liz, McDonald (27 September 2016). "Gough family forced to cut rent on Christchurch heritage building". The Press. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  6. ^ Liz, McDonald (2 December 2016). "Goughs sell building to Dotcom lawyer". The Press. Retrieved 18 February 2017.