Type Art Gallery Completed 1890, 1894 Cost 1,229 GBP | Address Armagh St Renovated 1972, c.1980 Demolished 2012 | |
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Client Canterbury Society of Arts (CSA) Architectural style Gothic Revival architecture Architecture firm Armson, Collins and Harman Similar Christchurch Art Gallery, Centre of Contemporary Art, Otago Art Society, Guthrey Centre, Christchurch Arts Centre | ||
The Canterbury Society of Arts Gallery, was an art gallery in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand. It consisted of two buildings built in the late 1800s. The buildings were demolished in 2012 due to damage from the Canterbury earthquakes.
Benjamin Mountfort designed the first building in 1890, costing a total of £1,229. It consisted of a large gallery, and some smaller rooms, one that was meant for use as a library.
A second building, designed by Richard Harman was completed in 1894.
Demolition
The Ministry of Justice was the tenant of the building during the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. They deemed it too expensive to repair the building and the move to demolish the building was backed by building owners Ngai Tahu. The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority supported the action citing the old gallery as an earthquake risk.
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust had previously assessed the building and found it largely undamaged.