This great photo was in The Press last year (2012)! The Government Life Insurance Building, dubbed the ‘ugliest building in Christchurch’ was demolished by CERA due to quake damage. This photo was taken during its construction in 1962.
The site of the Government Life Insurance building once belonged to pioneer doctor and artist/photographer Dr. A.C. Barker. His house and garden took up the length of Worcester Street between Oxford Terrace and Cathedral Square. A lot of the photos taken of family and other great pioneers were taken in his garden. He died there in 1873.
*image courtesy of http://www.fairfaxmedia.co.nz*
