Seddon Memorial
The Seddon Memorial in Wellington, built 1908-1910, stands tall above the tree tops in honour of the Right Honourable Richard John Seddon (1845-1906), New Zealand’s longest serving Prime Minister. The design is a reinforced concrete column faced with Coromandel granite, mounted over a concrete crypt, complete with a life size bronze figure, which represents the State in mourning for its dead, at the top.
Salmond Reed Architects was initially commissioned to undertake a measured survey, drone photography and a thorough inspection to assess the condition of the Memorial and produce a conservation statement; in particular in relation to longstanding issues of water ingress to the structure. Detailed historic research was undertaken to fully understand the monument’s significance and history of repairs.
In 2019, Salmond Reed Architects produced a detailed specification of conservation works and coordinated the seismic assessment. During 2021, the physical restoration and seismic upgrade will be undertaken in 2 phases and involves installation of structural steel, cleaning and conservation repairs to bronze, marble, lead and masonry plus improvements to the site.
