History of Centre

The Music Centre is comprised of four Heritage buildings, which were formerly the Convent, the Chapel, the Portery of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, and the Sacred Heart College Girls’ Hostel. The buildings were opened at various stages dating 1882 through to 1930.

The four distinct buildings were saved from demolition in the early 1990’s by the founding Trustees, along with a group of dedicated musicians, choristers, residents and the Christchurch City Council. Restoration was funded by the NZ Lotteries Grants Board, the Trust Bank Community Trust and the Christchurch City Council, along with assistance from various benefactors and some generous companies.

The buildings were transformed to become the creative foundation for the ‘Music Centre of Christchurch’.

1881

The first Girls’ High School was established in the large room on the ground floor of the convent, a year before the convent was officially opened. It is now called the Don Whelan Room.

1882

The magnificent three storeyed Convent of the Sisters of ‘Our Lady of the Missions’ occupied the current Music Centre site. It was an early design by architect Francis Petre in a simple Gothic style with angular window heads. Originally the convent was known as the “Monastery”. It was built of brick and the front was later covered in cement stucco with Oamaru stone detailing.

The second floor of the convent provided sleeping accommodation for the schoolgirl boarders, while the bottom floor was devoted to school rooms, living rooms and the kitchen. The third floor was mainly used for storage and the nuns’ dormitory.

1902

The Portery was added in 1902, due to overcrowding in the convent.

1907

The jewel in the crown of the Music Centre is the Heritage Chapel, built in 1907, by Joseph Munnings, Hurst Seager and Cecil Woods. It is the only example of Byzantine revival architecture in the Southern Hemisphere. It was restored in 1993-94. It was situated between the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament and the Convent.

1927

Sacred Heart Girls’ College was built in 1927. The school moved out of the Convent into a separate building (since demolished) behind the Convent.

1930

The Girls’ Hostel for Sacred Heart College was built in 1930. It was called ‘Sacred Heart Boarders’ Side” adjoining the Convent along Ferry Road. The beautiful stained glass window of the Annunciation found its way home into this building. The hostel cost £7,000 to build.

1980

By the late 1980s the Chapel and the Convent were no longer being used and in the early 1990s the nuns declared the buildings were to be demolished as they could not afford to pay for the buildings’ upkeep. The nuns felt the convent was in a state of disrepair and was an eyesore as well as an earthquake and fire risk.

1992

The Chapel and the Convent were saved from demolition thanks to an urgent heritage order to preserve the buildings.

1993

Action was taken to start the restoration and refurbishment of the buildings. The work included strengthening the buildings, installing a lift and converting existing rooms into studios, recital and lecture rooms and an administrative office.

1994

The first of the Music Centre’s tenants, the Christchurch School of Music, moved into the restored Convent and commenced using the buildings in September 1994. The Chapel was immediately put to use as a concert venue. The refurbishment cost approximately $1 million.

2003

The restored Hostel and the Portery were reopened as part of the Music Centre. The rooms in these buildings are now utilised for a wide range of activities.

2007

The Chapel Foyer was renovated and the administration office moved to the Portery.

2008

The new entrance was opened and the conversion of the Hostel to administrative use was completed.

2009

The Chapel was renamed The Maurice Till Concert Hall

Founding Trustees

• Hon ME Austin MNZN, CRSNZ, FNZIM
• John Brandts-Giesen
• Mollie McGrade Clark JP
• Christine Low
• Sir Miles Warren ONZ, KBE, CBE
• Don Whelan MNZM