Pieces of our shaky past: an attempt to find new homes for the fragments of buildings salvaged after earthquakes

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Ten years after being pulled out of the earthquake rubble, the massive front doors of the old St. Paul’s Church building in Trinity Pacific are still stocked.

It is just one of the many fragments recovered from buildings demolished after the earthquakes that are now being shown to their previous owners.

After the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, staff of Christchurch City Council, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery and demolition contractors retrieved materials from a number of important heritage buildings on the verge of demolition.

These include The Press Building at Cathedral Square, Christchurch Railway Station on Moorhouse Ave, the Old Royal Theater on Gloucester St, and the former public library at Cambridge Tce.

Stone, wood carpentry, and other building components were recovered for reuse on the original site, or for use in the repair and maintenance of other heritage buildings.

Ownership of the materials was transferred to the city council at that time.

Now, 10 years after the earthquakes, the council wants to find new homes and uses the fragments to preserve memories of lost buildings.

I have started contacting the previous owners of the buildings to see if they would like any items back.

Heritage Council team leader Brendan Smith said that many of the sites have new owners, so the potential for the pieces to be reused at the original sites is slim.

“Not all items can be returned to buildings, but there are other ways people can use these artefacts, perhaps as interpretations, sculptures, or pieces of art.”

Some of the fragments are large, like the top of the press building. Others, including doors, tiles, light fixtures, and fire surrounds, came from more modest buildings.

“There is also plenty of beautifully carved stonework from the lost buildings that shows the quality, passion and skill of our heritage, including medallions, balconies, balconies and badges.

“Our ancestors took great pride in the architecture and details of our streetscapes,” Smith said.

Previous building owners have until August 31 to redeem any items.

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