Civic Trust
  • Home
  • About Us
    • What we do
    • Meet the Team
    • Save the Date
    • Newsletters
  • Featured Articles
  • Heritage & History
    • Heritage NZ Listed Category 1
    • Awards & Grants
  • Get involved
    • Become a member
    • Make a donation chasing coin
  • Street Art
  • Blue Plaques
  • Contact
    • Links
    • Facebook Page
Featured Articles

Meehan's Building

17/3/2018

2 Comments

 
​James Meehan and his brother ran a successful grain & seed business in Timaru, and in 1910 purchased a site in lower George St in order to establish new premises.  The date 1913 is proudly displayed on the cartouche near the top of the façade.  The building is the work of architect Thomas Lusk who was also involved in the remodelling of the Dominion Hotel in Timaru as we know it today.  It would seem that Lusk was living in Dunedin at that time, since that is where his daughter Doris Lusk, the well known New Zealand painter was born in 1916.  Subsequently the family moved on to Hamilton.

Lusk's building follows a building form seen in London in the late 18th century – in particular the buildings of St James' Square and Bedford Square – as illustrated here.

The premises would have struck a bold statement of stability and success for the Meehans' clientele, not just from the elaborate façade but also upon entering the foyer.  Raised slightly above the pavement, in the London manner, the entry is quite grand with its marble floor and elevator.  Surely this is proof of the fact that the function of a building is not just to provide a weatherproof working environment but to convey subtle messages in a competitive world.  How could another merchant working from a humble tin shed compete with the proprietors of this establishment?

Built next to Werry's Hotel on the corner (now Morton's building) Meehan's building provides an unbroken link to the quite bulky building on the seaward side, thus creating a special precinct in the CBD.

David McBride

 
2 Comments
Raymond Morris
23/10/2021 03:18:14 pm

Good day
My query is on the Meehans building lower George St
I have been doing a number of watercolour paintings for the University of Canterbury on Canterburys historic buildings and would like to include the Meehans building in due course as a fine building of its era
As a courtesy i like to seek permission from the buildings owner who i believe is a Jayne Blakemore
As I don’t have her details you might like to advise her of my intentions and she can email me a reply if she is agreeable
For a reference i have also completed works for Tony Rippin of the South Canterbury Museum
Regards
Raymond Morris


Reply
Fauziah link
4/5/2025 02:54:29 am

Great article! It provides an interesting historical perspective on Meehan's Building and its architectural significance. Well-written and informative!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Back to Articles

    View by date

    Archives

    February 2021
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

    Categories

    All
    Featured Articles

Picture
CONTACT US
PO Box 125 Timaru 7940

Email [email protected]
Picture
Picture

© Timaru Civic Trust | Website by Corporate Print
Imagery supplied by Brian High Productions ©
  • Home
  • About Us
    • What we do
    • Meet the Team
    • Save the Date
    • Newsletters
  • Featured Articles
  • Heritage & History
    • Heritage NZ Listed Category 1
    • Awards & Grants
  • Get involved
    • Become a member
    • Make a donation chasing coin
  • Street Art
  • Blue Plaques
  • Contact
    • Links
    • Facebook Page