A pioneering art gallery housed in two elegant late-Victorian buildings that anchored Christchurch’s cultural life until the earthquakes of 2011–12 brought them down.
At a glance
The Canterbury Society of Arts Gallery occupied two brick structures in central Christchurch from the 1890s until their demolition in 2012. The first building, designed by Benjamin Mountfort and completed in 1890, provided exhibition space and a library. A second structure, designed by Richard Harman, was added four years later to expand the society’s facilities.
History
Benjamin Mountfort designed the original building in 1890 at a cost of £1,229. It housed a large gallery space alongside smaller rooms, one designated for a library. Richard Harman completed a second building in 1894, reflecting the society’s growing ambition.
In 1968, the gallery relocated to larger premises at 66 Gloucester Street. The original buildings remained standing until the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010–11 rendered them unsafe, and they were demolished in 2012.
What you see
Both buildings dated to the late nineteenth century, when Victorian-era brick construction dominated Christchurch’s streetscape. The first structure combined functional exhibition galleries with intimate reading and study spaces, a layout typical of arts societies of the era.
Cultural significance
The Canterbury Society of Arts Gallery served as a cultural anchor in Christchurch’s CBD and supported local and regional artistic practice. The organization itself continues today as CoCA (Centre of Contemporary Art), established in 1996 at its new location.
Key facts
- Country: New Zealand
- City: Christchurch
- First building designed by: Benjamin Mountfort (1890)
- Second building designed by: Richard Harman (1894)
- Original cost of first building: £1,229
- Demolished: 2012 (earthquake damage)
- Coordinates: −43.5286, 172.6338
Practical information & getting there
The original gallery buildings no longer stand. The Canterbury Society of Arts continues its work as CoCA Centre of Contemporary Art, now located at 66 Gloucester Street, Christchurch.
Sources & resources
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