Rolleston Statue

Rolleston Statue is a life-sized marble representation of the British administrator William Rolleston standing on a stone base along Rolleston Avenue in front of Canterbury Museum. The white figure depicts the superintendent in an upright stance and is a striking feature of the museum grounds.

Sculptor Herbert Hampton created the work and unveiled it in 1906 as a tribute to Rolleston's contributions to the development of the Canterbury region. The monument suffered damage during the devastating 2011 earthquake and underwent major restoration that was completed in 2016.

The monument is part of a series of three statues honoring Canterbury superintendents and reflecting the history of local governance. Together, these figures tell a story about the early leaders who shaped the region.

The statue is freely accessible and can be visited throughout the year as part of a heritage walking route connecting several historical sites in the area. The best approach is from Canterbury Museum, where visitors can also explore other nearby monuments.

During the restoration work after the 2011 earthquake, engineers discovered the statue had been secured only with mortar, which contributed to its instability during the quake. This finding led to the installation of new anchoring systems to ensure the monument would withstand future seismic events.

Location: Christchurch

GPS coordinates: -43.53096,172.62746

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:04