Albion Square

Until the earthquakes Lyttelton didn't have a square. Now it has a community space of its own on the site of the former Albion Hotel.

This Hotel had been a major landmark in Lyttelton from 1858, when Collier's store was converted to a hotel. This is historically quite a feat given that most of the town was razed during the 1870 fire, and that the stables ot the rear also burned down in 1881. It was rebuilt in 1881 anyway, and that is the building which stood until 2011. Some interesting archaeology was discovered when it came down.

Locals chose the location of the new square, themselves, post-quake, by choosing to play petanque amongst the hotel rubble, beginning a process which eventually designated the area as public space. The plan by landscape designers Boffa Miskell, was drafted to the community's specifications, centred around the town's newly repaired war memorial cenotaph.

Albion squarefeatures a stage, terraces and play equipment. Edible fruit trees and herb gardens have been planted. It includes an interactive children's playground, and a flat lawn, one of few in the steep harbour town. The carved entrance Ohinehouroko, is named after the original pa in the area, and features a fish hook and anchor, depicting the coming together of two cultures. It can be a very active place on a Saturday Morning when the Farmer's Market is on.