Cathedral Square, Christchurch

The Christchurch Cathedral was severly damaged on February 22, 2011 by an earthquake. The top of the famous spire crumbled to the ground.The city's principal sight is the cathedral, a prominent landmark with its 65m spire. It was designed by the famous London architect Sir George Gilbert Scott. The foundation stone was laid in 1864, but only a year later the work was halted because of shortage of money and only resumed in 1873. The direction of the work was entrusted to Benjamin Mountfort, who modified Scott's plan by adding turrets, pinnacles and small balconies. The building was completed in 1904, 6 years after Mountfort's death and 40 years after the start of work - though the first services were held in the nave in 1881.In the interior of this monumental church are a series of pictures illustrating the history of the Anglican church and its bishops in New Zealand. There is also fine stained glass.

The building suffered significant damage from the earthquake on February 22, 2011 and was demolished in July/ August 2011.The Press Building, on the northeast side of Cathedral Square, was built (by Collins and Harman, 1909) to house the offices of the Press, Christchurch's oldest newspaper (founded 1861). A striking feature of this four-story building, in English late Gothic style, is that the windows are different on each of the floors.

In front of the cathedral is a statue of John Robert Godley, founder of Christchurch.Due to the Christchurch earthquake in February 2011, the Godley Statue fell off its plinth. Time capsules were discovered underneath and will be examined. The staute will be re-erected.

To the south of Cathedral Square is City Mall (pedestrian zone), Christchurch's principal shopping street.

On the southwest side of Cathedral Square is the old Chief Post Office (by PFM Burrows, 1879; 64), a building in Italian Renaissance style.