Ballantynes Memorial Rose Garden Repair

The Christchurch City Council is working on plans to repair earthquake damage to the Ballantynes Memorial Rose Garden in the Ruru Lawn Cemetery and would like to hear from those with relatives buried there.

The memorial, built with stone donated by the Canterbury Association of Master Monumental Masons and maintained by the Council, commemorates the 41 people who died in the 1947 Ballantynes department store fire.

The Council’s Manager Parks Operations, Ross Campbell, says the Council wants to keep relatives of fire victims informed about repairs to the memorial, but owing to the time that has elapsed since it was built, making direct contact would be very difficult.

“We’re inviting people with family members interred in the Ballantynes Memorial Rose Garden to get in touch with us so we can let them know about progress in repairing this significant city memorial.”

The memorial, a stone and timber pergola with plaques listing the names of fire victims buried in the adjoining rose garden, collapsed in the earthquake. It will be deconstructed and rebuilt with steel reinforcing using as much as possible of the original stone. Damaged memorial plaques will be restored and paving and kerbing repaired or replaced.

Ross Campbell says the works contract will be carefully managed to avoid disturbing visitors to the Ruru Lawn Cemetery with contractors stopping work during interments.

Restoration work is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.

Mayor Bob Parker says the repair project reinforces the Council’s commitment to preserving city memorials damaged in the earthquakes.

“Like the Bridge of Remembrance, the Ballantynes Memorial Rose Garden represents an event which shaped Christchurch as a city. It is important these memorials endure because they will help future generations of citizens understand our past.”
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