Queen Victoria Statue

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Reviews

1. Dhanesh Ramanlal ★★★★★

   Easy access and great location.

   almost 6 months ago
2. Cashflow RE Diana Lovetravel ★★★★★

   Nice park with fountain, Queen Victoria statue & totem! Pretty river for punting!

   1 year ago
3. Bruce InCharlotte ★★★★★

   Walking through Christchurch and not knowing I was in Victoria Square, I could tell from across the way that this had to be a statue of Queen Victoria. A remarkable memorial to a great leader of the British Empire. Commissioned in in 1901 from British sculptor Francis John Williamson (1833-1920). Williamson had recently completed a statue of Queen Victoria for the City of Auckland (erected in Albert Park) and his effigy of Bishop Harper, in Christchurch Cathedral had been well received in Christchurch. Williamson promoted himself as 'the Queen's Sculptor'. His 1887 statue of Queen Victoria for the Royal College of Surgeons in London was described by the Prince of Wales as 'the best portrait ever executed' of her. The foundation stone was laid by the Duke of Cornwall and York in June 1901, but the statue did not arrive in New Zealand until January 1903. For any royalist or history buff, it's worth a stop. The statue is one of four in the main centers of New Zealand. This one shows "a robust late Victorian realism" which is different from the sculptors other works that are more conservative and neo-classical.

   almost 2 years ago

1. Annie Hackett ★★★★☆

   Historical, informative and visually stunning.

   almost 3 years ago
2. Nigel Rushton ★★★★★

   Victoria Square was originally called Market Square or Market Place, having its name changed in 1902. Following the Feb 2011 Christchurch Earthquake it was restored costing over $7 million. Restoration took over a year and is largely unchanged from the pre-quake look.

   more 6 years ago
3. Rebekah Iggo-Browne ★★★★★

   So many found childhood memories of catching the bus from Victoria Square after school.

   more 6 years ago

1. BradJill ★★★★☆

   One of the interesting things to see at Victoria Square is the bronze statue of Queen Victoria, which is now situated near the corner of Armagh and Colombo Streets. This is a works of British sculptor Francis J. Williamson and was unveiled in 1903 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the founding of the Canterbury settlement. The monument also serves as a memorial for those from the Canterbury region who were killed during the South African "Boer" War (1900-1902). Here you see a regal depiction Queen Victoria. She stands and peers forward, dressed in royal attire and crowned, she holds a sceptre in her right hand. The monument pedestal includes bronze reliefs depicting industry and occupational scenes from the colonial period. Note: This is one of several interesting monuments at Victoria Square. It is equally worth taking a few minutes to see and enjoy the Captain James Cook Statue, H. L. Bowker Fountain, and the Maori Poupou monument.

   more 7 years ago
2. Brad ★★★★☆

   One of the interesting things to see at Victoria Square is the bronze statue of Queen Victoria, which is now situated near the corner of Armagh and Colombo Streets. This is a works of British sculptor Francis J. Williamson and was unveiled in 1903 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the founding of the Canterbury settlement. The monument also serves as a memorial for those from the Canterbury region who were killed during the South African "Boer" War (1900-1902). Here you see a regal depiction Queen Victoria. She stands and peers forward, dressed in royal attire and crowned, she holds a sceptre in her right hand. The monument pedestal includes bronze reliefs depicting industry and occupational scenes from the colonial period. Note: This is one of several interesting monuments at Victoria Square. It is equally worth taking a few minutes to see and enjoy the Captain James Cook Statue, H. L. Bowker Fountain, and the Maori Poupou monument.

   more 7 years ago

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