Addington Cemetery conservation plan available for public comment
The graves of a number of notable Christchurch residents — including suffragist Kate Sheppard, artist John Gibb and politician Tommy Taylor — are among those featured in a draft conservation plan for Addington Cemetery that is now available for public comment. The Council is inviting feedback on the plan to help it restore and maintain this important heritage-listed cemetery.
It is also seeking the contact details of families of those buried in the cemetery and registrations of interest from anyone wanting to help fund the cemetery’s restoration.
Funding for the plan and some initial restoration work has come from the Spreydon/Heathcote Community Board. John Rhind Funeral Directors has also pledged to sponsor part of the restoration to help mark the company’s 125th anniversary and in recognition of the fact that some Rhind family members are buried there.
The 2ha cemetery on Selwyn St was set up in 1858 by the St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Early settler Jane Deans was a prime mover in the establishment of the cemetery and several members of the Deans family of Riccarton are buried there. By allowing for the burial of virtually anyone regardless of their religion, it was in effect the city’s first public cemetery. By 1888 the cemetery was declared to be full but burials continued until 1980, when it was officially closed.
It is the first of Christchurch’s cemeteries to have a draft conservation plan. Public feedback will be invited in October on one for Linwood Cemetery and both revised plans are intended to be presented to the Council for approval in December.
- Addington Cemetery Conservation Plan can be viewed on the website www.ccc.govt.nz/haveyoursay or at South Library, Central Library, Spreydon Library or Civic Offices ground floor reception.
- Submissions may made until Friday, 23 September via the website or sent to
Addington Cemetery Consultation, C/-
Ann Liggett, Beckenham Service Centre,
P O Box 12 033, Christchurch.
- To register your interest in the cemetery contact the Beckenham Service Centre on 941 5113
- More information about city cemeteries is on the web, at http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Heritage/Cemeteries/
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