The Star: October 03, 2019

THE ARTS Centre as we know it
has been part of Christchurch’s
landscape for generations –
but this glimpse of one of its
buildings standing alone on a
dusty unpaved road is unfamiliar
to many of us.
From 1877 until the mid-1950s,
the Arts Centre was buzzing
with students, as Canterbury
College (now Canterbury
University) and Christchurch
Girls’ and Boys’ High Schools
used the buildings as a campus at
various times.
The buildings were transferred
to the Arts Centre Trust Board
when Canterbury University
completed its move to Ilam in the
1970s.
Designed by prominent
architect Benjamin Mountfort,
this Gothic Revival tower served
as the Observatory and Biology
building, with a telescope gifted
by James Townsend located in
the Observatory right at the top
when this photo was taken.
The historic Townsend
Telescope, a six-inch refractor
made by Thomas Cooke and
Sons of York, England, in 1864,
was recovered from the rubble of
the Arts Centre tower after the
February 22, 2011, earthquake.
The Arts Centre and
Canterbury University plan to
restore the building and the
telescope.
The Beca Christchurch
Heritage Festival 2019 starts
on Monday and this year, as
part of the festival, Christchurch
City Libraries will celebrate 10
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Photo hunt keeps the past alive
HISTORY: This photo of the Observatory, Canterbury
College, circa 1895, was entered in the 2013 Christchurch
City Libraries’ Photo Hunt.
years of the Christchurch Photo
Hunt.
Over the past decade, the photo
hunt has collected hundreds of
great photos like this one, and
Christchurch City Libraries
hopes people will dust off their
collections and unearth some
more treasures.
The photo hunt competition
runs from now until October 31.
Your photo hunt photos will be
carefully scanned and preserved
as part of the Christchurch City
Libraries’ collection.
They will then be loaded
onto the Discovery Wall at
Tūranga central library so
CELEBRATION: To check
out the Beca Christchurch
Heritage Festival events
taking place at the Arts
Centre, visit ccc.govt.nz/
heritagefestival.
PHOTO: ARTS CENTRE
Submit your photos for
the Christchurch Photo
Hunt at any city library or
at christchurchcitylibraries.
com
everyone can enjoy them.
You can also see them at
discoverywall.nz.
There will be heaps of events
happening in the central city
during the Beca Christchurch
Heritage Festival 2019.
There will also be some great
events at the Arts Centre during
the festival. Check out what’s
happening at ccc.govt.nz/
heritagefestival or pick up a copy
of the Heritage Festival printed
guide from your local library or
service centre.
Thursday October 3 2019 The Star
NEWS 19
New leadership
degree offered
at university
INTERNATIONAL media
attention on Canterbury
University’s student leadership
has led to a new, unique degree
being offered.
From next year, the
university’s College of
Education, Health & Human
Development will offer
a Bachelor of Youth and
Community Leadership.
This degree will aim to
“build on UC’s international
reputation for social action, to
educate graduates who are more
socially, ethically and culturally
aware,” a UC spokeswoman
said.
“UC’s Student Volunteer
Army is the university’s most
visible example of student
leadership, having gained
international acclaim for their
determined and inspiring work
in the Christchurch community
immediately following the
Canterbury earthquakes.”
The SVA was formed by
activist Sam Johnson, who
used Facebook to mobilise
11,000 students to assist in
the clean-up following the
earthquakes.
The keystone of the degree
will be a course called,
CHCH101 Strengthening
Communities through Social
Innovation.
Encounter
our stories
Christchurch
Heritage
Festival
7–28 October
Over 80 special events! Discover heritage tours,
walks, talks, workshops, music, food and more
with the Christchurch Heritage Festival…
• Ōtautahi on Film, 13 & 20 October
• He whare, he taiao ... Kia matapopore …! 15 October
• 142 Years of Unfolding History, at the Arts Centre, 16 October
ccc.govt.nz/heritagefestival