{{Short description|Band rotunda in Christchurch, New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox building | name = Edmonds Band Rotunda | image = File:Edmonds Band Rotunda from the north-east (cropped).jpg | caption = Edmonds Band Rotunda in 2024 | location = Christchurch, New Zealand | coordinates = {{Coords|format=dms|type:landmark_region:NZ-CAN|display=inline,title}} | opened_date = 11 November 1929 | architect = Victor Hean | architectural_style = High Renaissance | embedded = {{designation list |embed=yes |designation1=NZ Category II |designation1_number=[https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/1865/Edmonds%20Band%20Rotunda,%20Poplar%20Crescent%20Building%20and%20Balustrades 1865] |designation1_date=11 November 1981<ref name="heritagenz" /> }} }}
The '''Edmonds Band Rotunda''' is a rotunda in Christchurch, New Zealand. Created by baking powder manufacturer Thomas Edmonds in 1929 to celebrate his 50th year of living in the city, it was used initially as a place for brass bands to play music. It was converted to a restaurant in the 1980s. The 2010 and 2011 Christchurch earthquakes caused significant damage to the rotunda, and it had to be deconstructed. After being rebuilt, the rotunda re-opened in 2021 and is now used for performances.
The rotunda has been listed with Heritage New Zealand as a Category 2 historic place since 1981.
== History == The Edmonds Band Rotunda was created by Thomas Edmonds, creator of the Edmonds baking powder, to celebrate his 50th year of living in Christchurch, as part of his River Bank Improvement Scheme.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Thomas Edmonds' band rotunda |url=https://canterburystories.nz/exhibitions/places-christchurch-band-rotundas/thomas-edmonds-band-rotunda |access-date=23 August 2024 |website=Canterbury Stories}}</ref> Listening to brass bands, which were subsidised by the city council, was a common form of entertainment at the time. After Edmonds made the offer to build the rotunda, the council accepted in April 1929. By May, the contract to build it had been given to builder Neil McGillivray.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Hurrell |first=Mei |url= https://christchurchcitylibraries.com/heritage/publications/christchurchcitycouncil/architecturalheritage/legacyofthomasedmonds/legacyofthomasedmonds.pdf |title=The legacy of Thomas Edmonds |date=1993 |publisher=Christchurch City Council, Environmental Policy & Planning Unit |others=Christchurch. Environmental Policy & Planning Unit |isbn=0-9597973-1-9 |location=Christchurch, N.Z. |pages=15–18 |oclc=39746008}}</ref>thumb|The foundation stone being unveiled in 1929|leftAfter construction of the rotunda had already started, Edmonds unveiled the foundation stone on 26 September 1929,<ref name=":1" /> after he had unveiled the foundation stones of two of his other buildings on the same day. The rotunda was formally opened on 11 November 1929, when Edmonds's wife cut the ribbon, and nine bands played.<ref name=":7" />
Due to a decline in the public interest of listening to band concerts, the rotunda gradually became unused. So in 1985 or 1986 (sources vary) it was changed to a restaurant, with the name of the Thomas Edmonds Restaurant,<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":7" /> and later the Retour Restaurant.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search |url=https://canterburystories.nz/search?f%5B0%5D=tags:Retour%20Restaurant |access-date=29 August 2024 |website=Canterbury Stories |publisher=Christchurch City Libraries}}</ref> The rotunda's character remained the same, with windows being added between the pillars as well as striped awnings. The basement was converted into a kitchen and had bathrooms added.<ref name=":1" /> It opened on 1 March 1987, with two of Edmonds's daughters attending.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
=== Earthquakes === After its supporting structures were damaged in the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /> the rotunda was added to the city's demolition list in March 2012 because it was considered dangerous.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |first=Charlie |last=Gates |date=16 March 2012 |title=Band rotunda joins demolition list |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/6583652/band-rotunda-joins-demolition-list |access-date=23 August 2024 |work=The Press}}</ref> Deconstruction was finished by September,<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 September 2012 |title=Dome saved from destruction |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/7732888/dome-saved-from-destruction |access-date=23 August 2024 |work=The Press}}</ref> with the dome and other parts being saved on the ground nearby.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |first=Liz |last=McDonald |date=3 May 2017 |title=Christchurch's $1.5 million heritage Edmonds Band Rotunda rebuild delayed until 2018 |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/the-rebuild/92172218/christchurchs-15-million-heritage-edmonds-band-rotunda-rebuild-delayed-until-2018 |access-date=23 August 2024 |work=The Press}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |first=Tina |last=Law |date=15 August 2021 |title=Edmonds band rotunda is finally open following an 'incredible' rebuild |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/126077309/edmonds-band-rotunda-is-finally-open-following-an-incredible-rebuild |access-date=23 August 2024 |work=The Press}}</ref> The dome sat there for several years; thieves gradually picked off its copper roofing.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 January 2015 |title=Quake-stricken Band Rotunda target of thieves |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/64823947/quakestricken-band-rotunda-target-of-thieves |access-date=23 August 2024 |work=The Press}}</ref>
The city council approved the rebuild of the rotunda in September 2016,<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |date=22 September 2016 |title=$1.3m Edmonds band rotunda rebuild to go ahead |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/84530182/13m-edmonds-band-rotunda-rebuild-to-go-ahead |access-date=23 August 2024 |work=The Press}}</ref> and the project was allocated $1.5 million.<ref name=":0" /> A start date of early 2017 was chosen, but when that time arrived, the rebuild was delayed to 2018.<ref name=":0" /> Again, restoration shifted from February 2019 to September 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 February 2019 |title=Stage set for return of Christchurch's Thomas Edmonds Band Rotunda |url=https://newsline.ccc.govt.nz/news/story/stage-set-for-return-of-christchurchs-thomas-edmonds-band-rotunda |access-date=23 August 2024 |website=Christchurch City Council |language=en-NZ}}</ref> The city council cited "budgetary reasons" for these delays.<ref name=":6" /> In July 2019, the city council allocated $1.6 million for the rebuild.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Michael |last=Hayward |date=5 July 2019 |title=Historic Edmonds Band Rotunda's $1.5 million rebuild confirmed |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/the-rebuild/114017479/historic-edmonds-band-rotundas-15-million-rebuild-confirmed |access-date=26 August 2024 |work=The Press}}</ref> In February 2021, the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust donated $1 million of the $1.5 million needed.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":6" />
The rebuild started in March 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 March 2020 |title=$1.5m restoration of quake-damaged historic building starts |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-christchurch/15m-restoration-quake-damaged-historic-building-starts |access-date=23 August 2024 |website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> The dome was placed onto the rotunda in November 2020;<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=7 April 2021 |title=Restoration of quake-damaged band rotunda nearly complete |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-christchurch/restoration-quake-damaged-band-rotunda-nearly-complete |access-date=23 August 2024 |website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=17 November 2020 |title=Thomas Edmonds Band Rotunda dome put back in its place |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/thomas-edmonds-band-rotunda-dome-put-back-in-its-place/4UFJ2253OJ7HG7GAYFQ3CBDUEQ/ |access-date=23 August 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald}}</ref> its weight required a crane to be transported from the North Island.<ref name=":3" /> Restoration of the rotunda itself was finished in July 2021, and landscaping was done in August. The restoration saw the addition of roll-up panel screens to protect the interior from the weather.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 July 2021 |title=Thomas Edmonds Band Rotunda: Restoration of historic riverside landmark finished |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-christchurch/thomas-edmonds-band-rotunda-restoration-historic-riverside-landmark |access-date=23 August 2024 |website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}</ref> Re-opening occurred in October 2021.<ref name=":6" />
The council did not want the rebuilt rotunda to retain the basement which was used for the restaurant,<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |first=Tina |last=Law |date=1 September 2016 |title=Music to ring out from Christchurch's band rotunda once again |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/83808557/music-to-ring-out-from-christchurchs-band-rotunda-once-again |access-date=23 August 2024 |work=The Press}}</ref><ref name=":8" /> and Gerald Edmonds, the great-great-grandson of Thomas Edmonds, suggested that Thomas Edmonds would not have wanted the rotunda to be used as a restaurant, as it was made for music.<ref name=":5" /> The rotunda is not used as a restaurant anymore; instead, it is a public space that is used as a performance venue.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Edmonds Band Rotunda |url=https://ccc.govt.nz/parks-and-gardens/gardens-and-heritage-parks/edmonds-band-rotunda |website=Christchurch City Council |access-date=10 October 2024}}</ref>
<gallery widths="200" heights="200"> File:Edmonds Band Rotunda 012 (cropped).jpg|The dome on the ground, in a cover File:Edmonds Band Rotunda 500.jpg|The rotunda being restored </gallery>
== Description == thumb|The building to the east of the rotunda
The rotunda is located in Cambridge Terrace and overlooks the Avon River / Ōtākaro, near the Manchester Street Bridge.<ref name=":1" /> It was designed by Victor Hean, in a High Renaissance style,<ref name=":7" /> and has been listed with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category 2 historic place since 1981.<ref name="heritagenz">{{Cite web |title=Edmonds Band Rotunda |url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/1865/Edmonds%20Band%20Rotunda,%20Poplar%20Crescent%20Building%20and%20Balustrades |access-date=27 August 2024 |website=Heritage New Zealand |language=en}}</ref>
The rotunda has an octagonal shape, with a height of {{Convert|12|m}} and a diameter of {{Convert|10.2|m}}. Each corner of the octagon has a {{convert|4.8|m|ft|adj=mid|-tall}} pillar, which all work together to hold up the dome. The dome is made of timber, is sheathed in copper,<ref name=":7" /> and weighs over 80 tonnes.<ref name=":2" /> There is a semi-circular seat to the east of the rotunda, and the west is a shelter made of reinforced concrete, used initially to hold band equipment.<ref name=":7" /> {{Clear}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons cat}} * [https://canterburystories.nz/collections/archives/star/prints/1979/ccl-cs-1539 Image of repair work in 1979]
{{Christchurch earthquakes}}
Category:Rotundas (architecture) Category:Heritage New Zealand Category 2 historic places in the Canterbury Region Category:2011 Christchurch earthquake Category:Music venues in New Zealand Category:1929 establishments in New Zealand