The Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Memorials

Bandsmen’s Memorial

Situated within Harman’s Grove overlooking the Primula Garden and surrounded by daffodils, this rotunda was the first memorial to be erected within New Zealand, commemorating the sacrifices of bandsmen who lost their lives in the First World War.

Designed by S & A Luttrell Brothers one of the leading firms of architects at the time, the Bandsmen’s Memorial was officially opened by MP Sir Heaton Rhodes on the 19th of September 1926. It has been and continues to be a popular venue for a wide range of musical entertainment, from brass bands, pipe bands to string quartets. It is a particularly pleasant area during springtime, with the flowering of hundreds of thousands of daffodils.

Restoration

The columns on the Bandsmen’s Memorial were replaced in 2002 to bring the structure up to New Zealand Building Code earthquake standards. Columns were removed one at a time, propping up that part of the roof, then putting in place a fibreglass mould into which concrete was poured. The new columns are exact replicas of the originals. The six columns rest on a base with a metal balustrade, supporting the entablature above. Original plans featured a dome that was not built due to lack of funds. The rotunda has a Grade II Historic Places Trust listing.