Theatre and Museum project moves onto detailed design stage

The project to save the Theatre Royal and build a new museum passed another significant milestone recently with the Council voting to progress the project to the detailed design stage.

The project, which one of the district’s largest and most complicated urban redevelopment activities in decades, will now go through the final stages of design and value engineering which will give us the final shape of the facility ready for building to kick off in 2024.

Detailed design defines the final design and specifications, as well as scheduling the works and materials required to deliver the project.

Value engineering is where the ruler is run over every part of the project looking for available savings. This may be delivered through a variety of measures such as simplifying of designs, use of different materials or changes to procurement methods.

Manager of Property Services and Client Representative Nicole Timney, who is leading the project for the Council, said that this stage is critical as it can drive the efficiency of the project.

“At this stage we have the valuable opportunity to see where we can make savings in the project while not undermining the quality or capability of the facility that we deliver,” she said.

“These are long-life facilities that will serve generations of the community, so it’s important that we build to a level of quality, but that’s not to say that we can’t take the opportunity to make savings along the way.

“In cases where we simplify the design and things are easier to build, there can be some significant cost savings without major impacts.

“We have an overall budget and it’s important for the team to work within that, this is why it’s important we take a rigorous look at the project and ensure every cent is bringing value.

“It’s also important to not lose sight of the initial intent of this project. It will play an key part of the rejuvenation of the South Stafford Street area and provides a chance to  support and enhance our arts and culture capability within the district.  

“When the facility is completed we will be able to develop innovative new shows and activities for the community, provide amazing educational opportunities for our kids, host all the touring productions and exhibitions that are currently skipping our district and give local producers top class facilities to help bring their productions to the next level.

“There’s been a lot of work going on in the back ground to get to this point, we’re looking forward to an exciting year as we begin to bring this new facility to life.”

Following the approval work will commence on detailed design, which is aimed to be completed by late April 2024

What was agreed?

Council agreed that:

1. It receives and notes the Southbase Construction Budget Estimate Report for October 2023 for Developed Design, the RDT Pacific Design Stage Report November 2023, the Rawlinsons Developed Design Estimate Report November 2023.
2. It Approves Option 1 as the preferred option for the Theatre Royal and Heritage Facility Project to take through to detailed design.
3. 3.The outcome of the meeting be publicly released.
4. 4.That the report and attachments that have not been publicly released remain public excluded until all commercial negotiations have been concluded.

Option 1 is that the Theatre Royal is refurbished with back of house changing facilities removed and rebuilt, and a new Heritage Facility built. The Theatre Royal Back of House facilities will be rebuilt, but the Stage house is completely refurbished.. The Heritage Facility new build is redesigned and only the Criterion Hotel facade is retained.

The estimated cost, which includes all costs to date, contingency, remaining project costs and build, is still at $57.1M and within agreed budgets, with $11.6M from the Government’s Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit and the remaining cost to council being $45.5M.
Why was the meeting held in Public Excluded, and why are parts of it still withheld?

While the majority of Council business is held in public, there are allowances in law for items like this to be held outside of the public view. This is so that we can ensure that the Council is getting the best price possible for ratepayers when entering commercial agreements with companies.

Holding the meeting in public excluded allows councillors to see the costs being proposed by the contractor as well as independent costing that’s been completed by quantity surveyors employed by council.

This provides more surety for the community as it gives us a clear indication that the price is fair and reasonable for the work being undertaken and an opportunity to go out to market with contestable procurement processes that maximise the opportunity to maintain if not reduce costs.

More information will be released publicly as we get closer to the end of the contractual process.

Museum hits $2 million fundraising for fitout

The South Canterbury Museum team are planning new long-term exhibitions for the new spaces that tell stories of our region’s landscape, life and environments, people and cultures.

This has seen the development of a detailed concept plan that makes full use of the 700m2 upstairs exhibition space to create a dynamic world-class museum experience. The Museum team are working with external designers and suppliers along with local iwi representatives bring our region’s heritage to life, making full use of the Museum’s extensive collections of specimens, artefacts and images.

The exhibition project’s $3 million cost is not part of the building costs. The South Canterbury Museum Development Trust are working to raise the further funding required for this project. Funding in hand has now reached $2 million, a major milestone which brings the final target that much closer.

The Legacy of South Canterbury's Museum: an interesting past and Exciting Future.

There have been heritage collections in South Canterbury for more than 150 years. While we all know it is a great way to learn about stories of our past, did you know the story of the Museum itself? It was established in 1941, but its first chapters go back to Timaru's first library.

In the Beginning: Timaru's First Library 1862

Before Timaru had a formal museum, gallery, or theatre, there was the first library, which opened in 1862. It was a small reading room in a schoolhouse on Barnard Street. Books and newspapers connected residents to knowledge, ideas and innovation from home and abroad.

Bringing education to working class adults was achieved through Mechanics Institutes, which started in the UK and spread across the British Empire in the 1800s with the aim of providing working-class education and promoting science, arts, and culture.

In 1870, land was secured on North Street to construct an institute hall. By 1877 they had established a Board of Trustees to borrow funds. The hall hosted lectures, events, a library, reading room, and news room - making knowledge and news accessible to those who paid a subscription.

For more than 30 years, the Mechanics Institute contributed to the cultural heartbeat of Timaru. Through lectures, concerts, exhibitions, and of course a well-stocked library, it promoted learning, creativity, and connection. Even when finances grew tight, the community remained passionately supportive of the cause.

A New Era Under the Council 1908

By 1906, the Mechanics Institute required more funding than subscriptions could provide. Mayor James Craigie (1851-1935) (who served as Mayor of Timaru for ten years from 1902), and Council were determined to secure its legacy by taking over management of the institute. With financial support from wealthy Scottish-American steel merchant and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the Council constructed a new Timaru Public Library in 1908 at King Geroge Place.

The transfer of the Mechanics Institute to Council ownership marked the beginning of free public libraries in Timaru. Now all residents could enjoy the library's resources without a paid subscription.

While attempts to establish a museum in Timaru during the 19th and early 20th century did not come to fruition, a number of interesting items were gathered and stored for the future. This included the much admired Sealy collection of butterflies and birds eggs, held in the Carnegie Library basement until a museum could be established.

The Library on Sophia Street by the roundabout opened in 1979. A hint of this previous life can still be seen in the words Public Library carved into the the District Council Building façade, and is a reminder of the visionaries and community who helped contribute to the well-being and enrichment of the community and help ensure that knowledge and culture are accessible to all.

The South Canterbury Historic Society gathers items to open a museum

Our district’s pioneering spirit persisted through the Great Depression and World Wars. In 1941, the South Canterbury Historical Society brought the dream of a local museum to life.

Thanks to a generous land and building donation from MP Thomas Burnett, the Society began actively collecting artifacts, documents, and photographs. Dedicated volunteers kept stories alive by preserving connections to the past. By 1952, the Historical Society had gathered enough items to open the first official South Canterbury Museum in two rooms of the Perth Street property. Their tireless work brought South Canterbury's history out of private collections and into the public eye.

This ensign is an example of an artifact initially housed at the Timaru Public Library, before finding its way into the South Canterbury Museum collection

South Canterbury Museum Curator Chris Rapley stands with a Battle Ensign from the HMS New Zealand, flown at the battle of Jutland, WWI 31 May 1916. - Courtesy of The South Canterbury Museum

The Battle Ensign from the HMS New Zealand was flown at the World War I Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. It still bears the battle scars from the intense fighting. The flag's history is closely tied to Timaru, it was presented to the country when the battlecruiser visited Timaru before the war and later returned to the town after the conflict. In 1919, the Timaru Herald reported that James Craigie, Timaru Borough's Mayor, received this flag and a Union Jack with the intention of passing them on to the Navy League. The SC Art Society exhibited these in 1920. The decommissioned Union Jack found a safe home in the library's cellar, mostly likely with the ensign too. It was later relocated to the South Canterbury Museum.

The Passion Project Becomes an Institution

In 1966, fundraising efforts by the Historical Society financed the construction of the iconic octagonal Pioneer Hall to house the expanding collection. In 1988 the Museum’s operations were passed over to the Timaru District Council, marking the transition from passion project to public institution.

With a full-time Director appointed in 1989, the Museum continued to mature as a professional operation. Expansions in 2000 and 2016-2019 upgraded storage, displays, and exhibition capacity.

Today, the South Canterbury Museum attracts locals and visitors from New Zealand and the world.

An Exciting Future Beckons

The Museum’s 178-year journey has been driven by the passion and generosity of volunteers, philanthropists and communities. In 2023, this legacy finds new expression in the new museum project.

A new cutting-edge museum is almost ready to construct on Stafford Street. With inspiring design, interactive experiences, and state-of-the-art exhibition spaces, the new museum will be important asset for South Canterbury.

Most excitingly, it will allow the museum to share its treasured taonga with more
people and attract prestigious touring exhibitions from home and abroad.

The Museum remains committed to its founding spirit - preserving our stories, enriching our present, and inspiring future generations.

Our shared history lives on through the passion of communities. May we continue the legacy of knowledge, creativity, and connection for generations to come!