This Saturday is the 3rd anniversary of the earthquake that killed 185 people and changed the city of Christchurch forever.

It was the third most expensive natural disaster ever, behind only the Japan Tsunami and the Thailand floods.

80% of buildings in the central city suffered irreparable damage from the quakes and have since been demolished. Empty spaces are all that remain where many of the historic buildings once stood proudly.

The Christchurch Cathedral

ChristChurch Cathedral, the city's symbol, as it stood before the quakes. (taken in 2008)
It was a Category 1 building.

Recently while looking through old photos, I found a large number of pre quake Christchurch photos. Today I sorted out some of the more well known landmarks, and decided to put them all together here on a blog post for others to see. 

I hope they bring back lots of pleasant memories of how Christchurch once looked.

Press Building

The Press Building. Cnr of Worcester and Colombo street, behind the Cathedral 

(It was a Category 1 Heritage building)

Edmonds Band Rotunda

 Edmonds Band Rotunda, Avon River, Manchester St

(It was a Category 2 Heritage building)

Inside Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Hall Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament

(It was a Category 1 Heritage building)

Inside the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Dome

Main dome, Inside the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament

New regent Street

New regent Street, and the Grand Chancellor.

St Johns Anglican Church St John's Anglican Church (Where the Cardboard Cathedral now stands).

(It was a Category 1 Heritage building)

St Pauls Trinity Pacific Church St Paul's Trinity Pacific Church, Cnr of Cashel St and Madras.Built in 1887.

A few weeks after I took this photo, this church was badly burnt in a fire. It was being repaired when the Chch earthquake struck.

(It was a Category 1 Heritage building)

Provincial Hotel Provincial Hotel, one of the oldest hotels in Christchurch. Licensed in 1865.

(It was a Category 1 Heritage building)

Unknown I'm not sure which building this was on, I remember I took it somewhere in the square in 2008.

Last time I was in the Square, I had a look at the remaining buildings, but it's gone.

Clarendon Tower Clarendon Tower, one of the highest buildings in Christchurch before the quakes.
(It was a Category 2 Heritage building)

This list of all the tall buildings that have been destroyed since the quakes is pretty amazing.

And the Historic Places Trust website has some good information about some of the older buildings lost.

 --If I have any facts wrong in this blog, let me know and I will edit it --

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