Beca Heritage Week celebrates Christchurch’s hip decades

14 August 2008

The decades leading up to the 1970s were some of the best times in Christchurch – whether seen from the perspective of the ‘good old days’ or as the revolutionary cauldron of change.

Join in the week-long celebration of Christchurch’s Beca Heritage Week happening on 17 - 27 October 2008, to find out whether architecture was ugly or utilitarian, whether we rebelled or revolutionised, and what the city gained from these turbulent times.

This year’s Heritage Week theme,Retrospective: Christchurch Life, Architecture and Design 1940s-1970s will focus on the 30 years following the end of World War II, from immediate post – war times, to the Rock and Rolling ‘50s, the swinging ‘60s, and through to the disco decade of the ‘70s.

The goal of the Retrospective theme is to celebrate the innovation, achievement and milestones of this period drawing on aspects of architecture and design, popular culture, music, transport, and fashion. 

Beca Heritage Week will celebrate Christchurch’s rich heritage with events ranging from a heritage quiz, the ever-entertaining heritage debate, a family movie night, a retro race and a night of living it up in the ‘70s style.

Local community and business groups run events and activities focused on aspects of local heritage for all Christchurch residents and visitors to enjoy. This year there is a diverse and action-packed line up of community events that celebrate in their own unique way Christchurch life, architecture and design between the 1940s and 1970s.

Initiated and core-funded by the Christchurch City Council, Heritage Week is supported by sponsorship from Christchurch businesses such as Beca and Bailies Bar in the Warner’s Hotel, among others.

Bob Blyth, Project Director with Beca, says the company is delighted to be the naming sponsor for the 2008 Christchurch Heritage Week continuing on from their involvement as naming rights sponsor in 2007.

“We are looking forward to working closely with the City Council and other sponsors towards another successful event, building on the success of previous years,” says Mr Blyth, adding that the Christchurch-based members of the Beca team were looking forward to being part of this “great annual event showcasing the heritage of our city both nationally and internationally”.

Highlights throughout the week include:

Bailies Bar Heritage Quiz at Warners Hotel -  Wednesday 22 October 7pm
The Great Heritage Debate - Tuesday 21 October 7.30pm
Flares & Beers – The Dux Retro Party  - Saturday 25 October from 9pm at the Dux-de-Lux
Family Movie night - Saturday 18 October 7pmThe Retro Heritage Dash - Friday 24 October  4pm start from Cathedral Square
Heritage Light: A Shine on the 60s – three iconic heritage buildings from the era will be transformed by light.

The significant historical milestones that will be highlighted during Beca Heritage Week are:

150 years since the laying of the foundation stone of the Canterbury Provincial Council Chambers;
125 years since the Belfast Freezing works was established and the first shipment of frozen ‘Canterbury lamb’ from Lyttelton to the United Kingdom;
100 years since Shackleton sailed for Antarctica on the “Nimrod”;
100 years since work began on the Summit Road;
75 years since daffodil plantings began in Hagley Park

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