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Excelsior Hotel, Christchurch

1880s architecture in New ZealandBuildings and structures demolished as a result of the 2011 Christchurch earthquakeChristchurch Central CityHeritage New Zealand Category 1 historic places in Canterbury, New ZealandHotel buildings completed in 1882
Hotels in ChristchurchUse British English from July 2011
Excelsior Hotel, Christchurch
Excelsior Hotel, Christchurch

The Excelsior Hotel in 120 Manchester Street, Christchurch, originally the Borough Hotel, in recent years known as Excelsior Backpackers or New Excelsior Backpackers, was a Category I heritage building in central Christchurch. It was designed by then most prominent architect, William Armson, and was one of the few remaining examples of his work in the city. It was heavily damaged in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, and all but its western façade was demolished after the earthquakes. The remaining part was demolished in April 2016.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Excelsior Hotel, Christchurch (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Excelsior Hotel, Christchurch
Manchester Street, Christchurch Central City

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Wikipedia: Excelsior Hotel, ChristchurchContinue reading on Wikipedia

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Latitude Longitude
N -43.534861111111 ° E 172.63986111111 °
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Address

Manchester Street 120
8011 Christchurch, Central City
Canterbury, New Zealand
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Excelsior Hotel, Christchurch
Excelsior Hotel, Christchurch
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Majestic Theatre, Christchurch
Majestic Theatre, Christchurch

Majestic Theatre was an Art Deco cinema building in Christchurch, New Zealand. Majestic Theatre opened on 1 March 1930, and for almost 40 years, operated as a cinema and theatre venue. Designed by the architectural firm of Sidney and Alfred Luttrell in the late 1920s, it was the final project in the Majestic Theatre programme, which saw several cinemas built across New Zealand. Majestic Theatre opened as the largest cinema in the city, and was the first building in Christchurch to be built with a complete steel frame. It housed a two-tier auditorium with 1650 seats, and also featured office space (originally tenanted by the Department of Labour) and shops on the ground floor. In 1946, shortly after being acquired by Sir Robert Kerridge, the building was damaged in a fire, and underwent renovations overseen by architect Harry Francis Willis. Following the growth of television in New Zealand in the 1960s, which impacted cinema ticket sales, Majestic Theatre utilised its large space to increasingly host stage performances. Notable performers included The Beatles, The Kinks, Manfred Mann and The Dave Clark Five, as well as successful long-running shows such as Startime Spectacular. In August 1970, Majestic Theatre officially closed following a second fire started in the dress circle. It was remodelled into a nightclub named Moby Dick’s Nite Spot, which operated until the mid-1970s when a third fire damaged the venue. The building was acquired by the Christchurch Revival Fellowship and reopened in 1978, and became known as Majestic Church in its later years. Majestic Theatre incurred moderate damage in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and was immediately closed. As a Category 2 scheduled heritage building, heritage advocates and members of the Christchurch City Council argued the building should be saved. However, in a controversial decision, the CCDU department of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) decided to demolish the building as part of their central city rebuild plan. Small protests and campaigns were held in attempt to save the building, but demolition went ahead in May 2014.

Hack Circle
Hack Circle

The Hack Circle or Hack was a nickname given to an amphitheatre in central Christchurch, New Zealand. It was built as part of the second phase of developing a pedestrian mall in the central city in 1989 and was officially opened on 6 December of that same year by then mayor Vicki Buck. For a time it was a popular Hacky Sack venue (hence the name), later it became a popular hang out for "black-dressed emos, goths, heavy metal fans and United States style gangstas". A 2004 survey conducted by the Christchurch City Council identified the Hack Circle as a popular place for young people to "hang out, smoke, meet friends etc." The same survey found that 90% of 13- to 15-year-olds and 94% of 16- to 18-year-olds came to the central city in their spare time. Christchurch police claimed the Hack Circle was a venue for criminal activity; on 20 October 2006, a 19-year-old was arrested for swinging a metal pipe around, and police claim that aggravated robbery, assault and the trafficking of cannabis happened in the area. Sergeant Murry Hurst told The Press that "Ninety per cent of the kids hanging around there are fine, the other 10% cause the problems."In February 2007 Senior Sergeant Glenn Dobson told The Press that the young people in the Hack Circle were not as intimidating as they could look to others, and commented that "[W]e can't move them on because they look different". Millionaire Christchurch property owner Antony Gough, who is considered one of the most powerful people in the city was an advocate of stronger security for the Cashel Street mall, particularly the Hack Circle, telling The Press that the people who associate there "are just very scary".