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The Winter Garden
Do you remember this venue?
Do you have memories of going to events or gigs at this venue? We’d like you to share your stories so that we can add to our archive of stories about the development of Christchurch’s music scene. Whether you saw Nick Cave at The Gladstone or were a Deb at the Winter Garden, email us with your story, or send your details and we’ll get in touch to interview you if you’d prefer.
Opened in 1927 as a cabaret and social hall, The Winter Garden was a sparkling venue in the Christchurch social scene. Originally a dance studio, the building was refitted for its opening with a sprung floor in the ballroom and the addition of a supper room and kitchen. The original décor was deep maroon suede, and there was a large mural depicting nymphs in a sylvan (forest) setting.
In the 1940s and 50s it was used for debutante balls dinner suits, white gloves, ball gowns and music it was the place to be. In the 1960s The Press reported it was remodelled in ‘a most delicate pink’ and the décor updated1. The Sapphire Room was added in that year it had a slatted red-pine roof, rich red carpet, white pendant lights, a new kitchen of grey formica, and a ‘battery’ of gas ovens.
Caterers P. Burke and Co, who also owned the Bush Inn and provided refreshments at race meetings ran the venue, which hosted a blue, Bermuda-style tuxedo dressed 12-piece band - including drums, piano, saxophone, and clarinet.
It was a centre for fashion and bridal shows, where shapely styles and Christchurch-made clothes were paraded to music arranged by Doug Caldwell and choreographed by Philip Chatfield, by models including New Zealand’s then Rose of Tralee, Paula Ryan. The Queen dined there on her 1964 visit.
The venue was bought by Lion Breweries, which had acquired Burke’s Caterers, and later sold to the Trade Union Centre (Canterbury) Limited for approximately $500,000 in 1984. The trade union centre leased some of the building to the Media club, and the other half of the building was demolished for car parking, with a massive public auction of effects in June 1988. The Trade Union Centre remains on the corner of Madras and Armagh Streets.
Notes
[1]. ‘Winter Garden Undergoes Second Transformation’ March 9, 1960 p12
