Mark Gerrard Chair Historic Places Canterbury
Mobile: 021 157 5043
Email: blueplaque@historicplacesaotearoa.org.nz
Tag: Heritage Blue Plaque
“Christchurch’s first blue plaque recipient revealed” The Press Online Article
"Christchurch's first blue plaque recipient revealed" The Press (Online Article)
"Christchurch’s heritage buildings are being celebrated and promoted with a new initiative launched in the city this week. ...
"Historic Places Canterbury chairman Mark Gerrard said he hoped the plaque would be the first of many in the city."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/124257215/christchurchs-first-blue-plaque-recipient-revealed
Historic Places Canterbury Media Release: Unveiling Of Christchurch’s First Heritage Blue Plaque
Historic Places Canterbury Media Release (14:02:2021):
Unveiling Of Christchurch's First Heritage Blue Plaque.
Historic Places Canterbury is pleased to announce that Dame Anna Crighton will be unveiling Christchurch's first Heritage Blue Plaque.
The Arts “Shop” in the Heritage Duncans Building.
DATE: Monday 15th February
TIME: 1pm
LOCATION: Ground Floor 139 High Street, Christchurch.
Dame Anna Crighton:
" The unveiling of this Heritage Blue Plaque is a well deserved celebration and recognition of the efforts of Nicky and Joe in the restoration of their heritage listed building.
" I admire greatly, the sheer dogged determination of Nicky and Joe for their achievement despite the vagaries of CERA and other restrictions.
" The Heritage Blue Plaque is a great way to celebrate and boost the profile of our built Heritage. I encourage Heritage Building Owners to consider it for their own buildings.
Nicky Arts Co-Owner:
" The Heritage Blue Plaque is the final chapter of the recovery from the Earthquake.
" We can now put behind the frustrations of CERA et al and celebrate.
" As a commercial building owner, I can state the Heritage Blue Plaque is a great way to enhance the profile of your heritage building.
Mark Gerrard Chair Historic Places Canterbury:
"This Heritage Blue Plaque will be the first of many that celebrate our city's heritage buildings and enhance their profile.
"Christchurch is now be part of the national project celebrating and raising the profile of built heritage throughout New Zealand.
Media Contact:
Mark Gerrard mobile 021 157 5043 e: canty@historicplacesaotearoa.org.nz
Background:
The Arts Family and their Historic Duncans Building “Shop”.
Pre-quake: Nicky Arts and brother Joe ran a family printing business in the Duncan's Building shop they owned.
Since the earthquake they have wound down the Printing Business and sold off the equipment.
After much effort, their heritage Duncan's building “shop” is now restored, earthquake strengthened and tenanted upstairs and downstairs.
The Heritage Blue Plaque project:
The Heritage Blue Plaque project was initiated by Historic Place Mid-Canterbury, It was endorsed as a national campaign by Historic Places Aotearoa and its Membership Organisations.
The Function of the distinctive plaques is for heritage buildings to be easily identified when travelling in a city or town. The Plaques individually and collectively raise the profile our Heritage Buildings.
The Heritage Blue Plaque project is grassroots community lead. Local heritage groups have final approval and funding is sourced locally by fundraising or building owner contribution.
Heritage Blue Plaque Public Forum Presentation To (The Christchurch City Council ) Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee of the Whole
Historic Places Chair Mark Gerrard and Heritage Blue Plaque Project Leader Nigel Gilkison gave a verbal update on the Heritage Blue Plaque to the Christchurch City Councillors.
Timaru Landing Service (Building) “Heritge “Blue” Plaque Unveiling: Some Images
New Zealand Heritage “Blue” Plaque Update: One new Plaque at Kurow, five ordered for Timaru and five more planned for Ashburton
After another successful year delivering five more Blue Heritage Plaques for Mid Canterbury, HPMC are looking at doing a further five plaques within the region this year.
The South Canterbury Historical Society (an HPA Associate member) and the Timaru Civic Trust have also ‘picked up the baton’ and are progressing the Blue Plaque initiative in South Canterbury, with the first five Blue Plaques currently on order and due to be placed on five heritage buildings in Timaru in the first half of 2020.
We also had an enquiry from the 87 year-old Grandson of Kurow’s first resident Doctor, who contacted us from the UK, where he resides, to see if we could produce a Blue Plaque to go on the original Doctor’s House in this tiny, but historic North Otago township.
This house was later occupied by Dr D. G. McMilan, who, along with Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer and local Headmaster Mr A. M. Davidson (known as the ‘Three Wise Men’ of Kurow), met regularly in this house to develop what was eventually to become New Zealand’s ground-breaking Social Security system which was introduced when the first Labour government came to power in 1935.
An earlier plaque on the site, which was produced by the North Otago branch of the former NZ Historic Places Trust neglected to mention the Kurow’s first resident Doctor, whom the house was originally built for. The wording on the replacement plaque now includes reference to the original date and purpose of this modest little (unlisted) 1893 Oamaru Stone bungalow. The new plaque was placed on an existing plinth outside the Doctor’s House (now a private residence) in January 2020.
During the course of the research for this building, we also uncovered the original architectural drawings of the Doctor’s house which revealed that it was designed by the renowned architect John Megget Forrester, son of Thomas Forrester (of Forrester & Lemon fame) and the architect of the Oamaru Opera House.