Built 1914 and designed by Samuel Hurst Seager, the Sign of the Bellbird is one of four rest houses planned by Henry (Harry) George Ell, a Member of Parliament for South Christchurch and conservationist. A tea room addition to the caretaker’s cottage, also designed by Hurst Seager, was completed in 1915. The rest house was closed in 1942 and the building was subject to vandalism. Since then, the remnants of the building have remained largely unchanged apart from the installation of a concrete slab floor and the installation of a new roof.
Sign of the Bellbird (Christchurch, N.Z.)
There are 3 related items to this topic
Image
[Artist unknown : Sign of the Bellbird, Kennedy's Bush, Port Hills, Christchurch, ca 1920]
Date: 1914 - 1925
Reference: E-278-q-105
Description: View of the single-storey stone rest house or tearooms known as The Sign of the Bellbird, in Kennedys Bush Reserve. The front door is open. Inscriptions: Verso - centre - Rest House - Kennedys Bush, Cashmere Hills, Christchurch, NZ Quantity: 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Photolithograph 75 x 110 mm on card 114 x 152 mm
Image
[Artist unknown : Sign of the Bellbird, Kennedy's Bush, Port Hills, Christchurch, ca 1920]
Date: 1914 - 1925
Reference: E-278-q-105-A
Description: View of the single-storey stone rest house or tearooms known as The Sign of the Bellbird, in Kennedys Bush Reserve. The front door is open. Inscriptions: Verso - centre - Rest House - Kennedys Bush, Cashmere Hills, Christchurch, NZ Quantity: 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Photolithograph 75 x 110 mm on card 114 x 152 mm
Image
[Artist unknown : Sign of the Bellbird, Kennedy's Bush, Port Hills, Christchurch, ca 1920]
Date: 1914 - 1925
Reference: E-278-q-105-B
Description: View of the single-storey stone rest house or tearooms known as The Sign of the Bellbird, in Kennedys Bush Reserve. The front door is open. Inscriptions: Verso - centre - Rest House - Kennedys Bush, Cashmere Hills, Christchurch, NZ Quantity: 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Photolithograph 75 x 110 mm on card 114 x 152 mm