Christchurch – this week in history (14 to 20 July)

17 July 1964
Opening of the Government Life Building in Cathedral Square. It was the city’s first “high rise glass box”. The building’s rooftop clock and temperature readings became a familiar part of the Square.

Plans:

• Government Life Building First Floor Plan, 21 November 1960
• Government Life Building East & South Elevation, 21 November 1960
• Clock 4 July 1963

The Post Office tower is dwarfed in this view, taken from the top of the Government Life Insurance building in the Square. March 1963

19 July 1988
Jock Orr, nicknamed “The Birdman” after befriending birds in Cathedral Square, dies in Christchurch.

20 July 1851
First church in Christchurch opened – later dedicated as St Michael and All Angels in 1859.

A timeline of Christchurch events in
chronological order from pre-European times to 1989.

More July events in our Christchurch chronology.