Bay Harbour: March 03, 2021

Wednesday March 3 2021 Bay Harbour News
NEWS 17
POTENTIAL: The newly-renovated Loons building will provide for
performance venues and much more.
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN
Exciting future for
history-rich Loons
Loon’s event manager Jonnie
Emery reflects on Lyttelton’s
iconic building, where it’s
been and what it is today
WITH RENOVATIONS completed
in December last year, the Loons has
transformed into a state-of-the-art live
music and performance venue.
The new two-storey premises at 16
Canterbury St, has undergone major
remodelling after the building was
significantly damaged in the Christchurch
earthquakes.
With overwhelming support from the
local community and the securing of
funding from both community funding
and local sponsorship, the 10-year project
has resulted in a dedicated live music and
performance venue upstairs and bar complete
with beer garden downstairs.
The Loons caters for live music, theatre,
arts, and private venue space for Lyttelton
and the wider Canterbury area.
The building itself has been an integral
and well-known part of the Lyttelton
community for more than a century. Built
in 1905, it housed a range of commercial
premises through to 1944 including a
grocery shop and the Loons garage.
In 1944, the building was purchased by
three watersiders and around that time
the premises was converted to become the
Waterside Workers Social
Club known locally
as ‘The Loons’.
1951 is a significant
year in New Zealand
history. Lyttelton and
its port, along with
others throughout
the country, were
involved in the largest
industrial dispute ever
seen in New Zealand
which lasted for 151
days. Having endured
compulsory overtime
and dangerous working
conditions, watersiders
finally put in an
overtime ban seeking
better conditions and
an end to compulsory
overtime. The government declared a state
of emergency on February 21, 1951.
‘Draconian emergency regulations
imposed rigid censorship, gave police
sweeping powers of search and arrest
and made it an offence for citizens to
assist strikers – even giving food to their
children was outlawed’.
The Waterside Workers Social Club
became the hub of support for the lockedout
workers and their families in Lyttelton
including the distribution of food illegally
donated by people sympathetic to their
cause. The government of the day deregistered
the Waterside Workers Union and
sought to seize its assets. The club became
a different entity – the Lyttelton Working
Mens Club and thus some assets, including
the building itself, were saved.
Thea Mickell, treasurer of The Loons
Club Incorporated, said it is an exciting
new chapter for the building which is so
rich in history.
“It was important to honour and respect
the history of this local institution while
recognizing its new potential and future.
Our goal is to encourage and foster
performing arts, both local and touring
and become the preferred live music and
performance venue in Christchurch.”
• To keep up to date with upcoming
shows at the Loons, visit www.theloons.
org.nz
STATE OF THE ART: Inside the Loons music venue.
PHOTO: JONNIE EMERY
Pams Fresh
Cherry Tomatoes
250g Prepack
Product of New Zealand
Pams Streaky Bacon
250g
HOT
CROSS
BUNS
$
2 99 ea
Pams Pure Olive Oil
500ml
$
5 79 ea
$
5 79 ea
in store now!
Pams Fresh NZ Chicken
Kebabs 8 Pack OR PRAWNS
Cooked & Peeled 300g
Pams Hash Brown
Triangle 750g
Pams Finest
Ice Cream 900ml
GET YOUR
FREE
BELL CUP
JUST PURCHASE 2 BELL TEA PACKS *
SEE INSTORE
FOR MORE DETAILS
www.foursquare.co.nz
$
8 49 ea
$
3 99 ea
$
6 99 ea
facebook.com/FourSquareNZ
Specials available South Island only from Monday 1st March until Sunday 14th
March 2021 or while stocks last. Wine and beer available at stores with an off
licence. Wine and beer purchases restricted to persons aged 18 years old and over.