Community Centre ideal venue for groups, clubs

The recently landscaped gardens behind the Shirley Community Centre.

The Shirley Community Centre is located in a park like setting on the corner of Shirley Rd and Slater St and has excellent, well-lit parking and disabled access.

If you want to hire out a room (there is also a hall with a small stage!) for educational, cultural or recreational activities, give the Centre Co-ordinator a call on 385-1417 anytime, or come into the Centre Monday-Friday 9.30am-12.30pm.

A Brief History

Shirley Community Centre was originally opened as Shirley Primary School in 1916.

Falling roles and high building maintenance cost resulted in Shirley Primary School moving to its present site across the road.

In May 1977 the building and site became surplus to Ministry of Education requirements.

In October 1977 Christchurch City Council was appointed to control and manage the site pursuant to the Lands and Domains Act 1953.

The site was set aside for use as a Community Centre and the running of the Centre was handed over to the Shirley Community Centre Society, which had been established earlier in the year to lobby for the building to be used as a Community facility.

The centre opened for hire in March 1978.

Over the next almost 25 years funding from the City Council, fundraising and volunteer work from members of the Society and the local community have restored this building to a pleasant, well appointed Community Centre the local community can be proud of. It is well used by both local and citywide community groups, clubs and some commercial ventures, and is largely self-funding.

Groups use the centre for activities such as meetings, art, pottery, yoga, karate, aerobics and exercise classes, spinning, lace making, computer tuition, latin dancing, bridge, parenting and antenatal classes, first aid, walking groups and social clubs.

In addition the centre leases space on an ongoing basis to Seniornet Canterbury, Christchurch Parent Centre, the Shirley Pottery Group, NZ Society of Genealogists (Canterbury) and Santa’s Workshop.

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