International Exhibition (1906)

1906/07 world fair held in Christchurch, New Zealand

New Zealand International Exhibition

Main building

Overview
BIE-class| Unrecognized exposition
Name| New Zealand International Exhibition
Area| 164 hectares (410 acres)
Visitors| 1,967,632
Location
Country| New Zealand
City| Christchurch
Venue| Hagley Park
Coordinates| 43°31′48″S 172°37′12″E﻿ / ﻿43.53000°S 172.62000°E﻿ / -43.53000; 172.62000
Timeline
Opening| 1 November 1906 (1906-11-01)
Closure| 15 April 1907 (1907-04-15)
Universal expositions
Previous| Liège International Exposition (1905) in Liège
Next| Brussels International Exposition (1910) in Brussels
Simultaneous
Other| Milan International (1906)

The New Zealand International Exhibition (the biggest in the country to that time) opened on 1 November 1906 in Hagley Park, Christchurch, New Zealand. Nearly two million people visited the exhibition during the next few months.[1]

The idea for the International Exhibition came from the prime minister, Richard Seddon, who was working on the government's 1903 budget and noticed a line item for the country to be represented at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. In Parliament, Seddon announced his idea as an intercolonial fair for New Zealand "on a scale unprecedented south of the Line". The initiative approved by cabinet contained just three facts: it was to be larger than any prior event, to be held in Christchurch's Hagley Park, and be held soon. The government financed the exhibition and would cover any losses. When public servants queried about the scale of the proposed event, Seddon clarified his expectations:[2]

> I thought I made it clear when I said it was to surpass anything hitherto held in the colony.

A 90 chains (1,800 m) branch railway line was built in late 1905 across North Hagley Park starting at the Riccarton station to service the exhibition (goods traffic only)[3] and a temporary tram line was built in Peterborough Street, Park Terrace and Salisbury Street to connect with the Victoria Street tram. The attractions included New Zealand's first professional symphony orchestra (conducted by Alfred Hill), and the first Dominion pipe band contest, which was won by the Dunedin Highland Pipe Band.

Amusements included a water chute on Victoria Lake, a dragon train, a toboggan course, a helter-skelter and a gondola. The Pike featured penny in the slot machines, a maze, and Professor Renno and his Palace of Illusions. Visitors were also able to view a 360 degree panoramic painting of the Battle of Gettysburg, accompanied by a history of the battle, at the Cyclorama.[4]

The exhibition closed on 15 April 1907 and the remaining buildings had been removed by the end of August 1907.

The architect for the buildings was Joseph Maddison. He also designed the Carlton Hotel, which was commissioned by the Wards's Brewery to be built in time for the International Exhibition.[5]

Chromolithograph of the Exhibition Buildings in Hagley Park by Philip Robert Presants Plan of the Exhibition Buildings in Hagley Park

## References

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to International Exhibition (1906).

1. ^ "New Zealand International Exhibition 1906". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
2. ^ Mitchell, Charlie (14 January 2024). "'A palace of white and gold': Remembering the strange, dreamlike fair announcing New Zealand to the world". The Post. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
3. ^ "The International Exhibition". The Press. Vol. LXII, no. 12369\. 7 December 1905. p. 10. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
4. ^ Christchurch City Libraries (2016). "110 years ago: The 1906 New Zealand International Exhibition". Christchurch City Libraries. Christchurch. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
5. ^ "Carlton Hotel". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 10 April 2011.

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World exhibitions

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BIE-recognized
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BIE-recognized
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* Rotterdam 1960
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Not BIE-
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| Africa|

* Freetown 1865
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Asia|

* Calcutta 1883–1884
* Hanoi 1902
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Europe|

* London 1760
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North America|

* New York City 1826–1897
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Oceania|

* Melbourne 1866
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* Christchurch 1906
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South America|

* Lima 1872
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* Rio de Janeiro 1922

* † Postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic
* ‡ Cancelled
* World portal

* v
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* e

List of world's fairs in New Zealand

* New Zealand Exhibition (Dunedin, 1865)
* New Zealand Interprovincial Exhibition (Christchurch, 1872)
* New Zealand International Exhibition (Christchurch, 1882)
* New Zealand Industrial Exhibition (Wellington, 1885)
* New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition (Dunedin, 1889)
* Otago Jubilee Industrial Exhibition (Dunedin, 1898)
* Auckland Industrial and Mining Exhibition (1898)
* International Exhibition (Christchurch (1906)
* Auckland Exhibition (1913)
* British and Intercolonial Exhibition (1923–1924)
* New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition (Dunedin, 1925)
* New Zealand Centennial Exhibition (Wellington, 1939–40)

Authority control databases |

* Te Papa (New Zealand)

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43°31′37″S 172°37′34″E﻿ / ﻿43.527°S 172.626°E﻿ / -43.527; 172.626
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