Seddon Memorial

Location

Wellington

Client

Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Date

2018-2022

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 at the top, which represents the State in mourning for its dead.

Conservation

Drones

Condition Report

Repairs

Marble

Bronze

Seismic Strengthening

Memorials

Monuments

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 and 2022, the physical restoration and seismic upgrade was undertaken in 2 phases and involved installation of a structural steel frame in the Crypt and central void, installation of 17 post-tension tie rods, cleaning and conservation repairs to bronze, granite and marble, repairs and painting of the perimeter wall and railings. This complex, challenging project was successfully completed in December 2022.