Clock Tower Chambers, municipal building in New Zealand
Clock Tower Chambers is a historic building in Westport featuring Moderne architecture with clean lines and functional design characteristic of the style. The structure, built from reinforced concrete with interior floors of rimu wood and a yellowish sand-coated exterior, stands out for its solid presence and distinctive clock tower silhouette.
Construction began in 1938 and finished in 1941, though rising costs during World War II caused delays during the project. The building replaced an earlier clock tower destroyed by an earthquake in 1929 and was designed by architect Archibald Macdonald in the Moderne style.
The building takes its name from the clock atop the tower, which was donated by a local cinema owner named Harry Morgan. This timepiece has become a familiar landmark that residents and visitors use for orientation while moving through the town center.
The building is located in Westport town center and is easily accessible on foot or by car with nearby parking available. The clock face at the top of the tower is visible from many points throughout the town and serves as a reliable landmark for navigation.
The clock tower was built as a symbol of community pride following the destruction of the previous tower in the 1929 earthquake. The donation of the timepiece by a local cinema owner shows how business leaders contributed to restoring a landmark for the town.
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