The Background
In 1897, councillor F.M. Spurdle proposed that Queen Victoria’s “record reign” should be commemorated by setting aside land on which the Council itself would build an opera house The Mayor, Alexander Hatrick, supported the idea, a committee was established to investigate and the council agreed to go ahead. In March 1897 the prospectus of the Wanganui Opera House company (Limited) was published in the local newspaper, with a capital of £5000. Of the 5000 £1 shares, 4000 were offered to the public. Plans were to erect the Opera House on a site in St Hill St. The council had plans for a competition drawn up to design the opera house. Terms, announced in September, 1898, noted that the successful architect would be rewarded with supervision of the job, and a commission of 5% on the total cost, with a second prize of £40 and third prize of £20. The winner, Wellington architect, George Stevenson, was announced in January, 1899, Mr Stevenson died that July, the day on which the foundation stone was laid. A retired Wanganui builder, James Tawse, took over supervision free of charge. The tender of £4597 was awarded to a former employee of his, Swiss-born Nicholas Meuli, who ran his own building company in Wanganui.
Read more about this topic: Royal Wanganui Opera House
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