Bridge of Remembrance

Edward George Wright, a civil engineer, completed the original Cashel Street bridge spanning the Avon River in May 1873. He was paid 509 pounds for his work.

This structure, the Bridge of Remembrance, is one of two main war memorials in Christchurch, New Zealand. It's dedicated to those who died in World War I, and also serves as a memorial for those who participated in World War II, as well as conflicts in Borneo, Korea, Malaya, and Vietnam.

The idea for a memorial arch here was first suggested in a letter to The Press on July 24, 1919, written by Mrs. Wyn Irwin. Construction of the arch began on January 23, 1923. Lord Jellicoe, Governor-General and Admiral of the Fleet, laid the cornerstone on Anzac Day, April 25, 1923. The memorial was then unveiled on Armistice Day, November 11, 1924, by Lord Jellicoe. Soldiers used to cross the Avon River at this location, marching from King Edward Barracks to the railway station in Moorhouse Avenue, on their way to fight in three wars.

The architectural design was by William Gummer of the firm Prouse and Gummer. The arch's central frame has the inscription "Quid non-pro patria," which means "What will a man not do for his country?" There are also unit memorials and a plaque to Charles Upham. The bridge itself became a pedestrian precinct on Anzac Day in 1977, and was closed to motorized traffic in 1976.

In February 2011, it was vandalized with graffiti, and then, a fortnight later, the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake damaged the arch. Permanent repair and earthquake strengthening began in May 2013 and were completed by December 2015 at a cost of $6.7 million. The Bridge of Remembrance reopened to the public and was rededicated on Anzac Day, April 25, 2016.