Charles Luney
Encyclopedia
Charles Seymour "Chas" Luney (28 June 1905 – 18 November 2006) was a builder and company director. He is notable for the many important buildings that his company constructed in Christchurch
, of which his favourite was Christchurch Town Hall
. His professional career spanned 80 years.
. His father was a carpenter who had immigrated from Canada
. The family struggled financially and Luney attended several primary schools, including one in Canada for one year. He attended Christchurch Boys' High School
for two years and was then apprenticed as a joiner.
Two events in his early life shaped Luney. He was unjustly partly held responsible for the death of his younger brother, and it made him determined to care for his family. Missing Scout
camp because his father could not afford the ten shillings made him value money and realise that it only came from effort. He saved carefully and persistently all his life and he hated unnecessary wastage.
The firm continued to grow and went on to build a number of prominent Christchurch buildings, many designed by Warren and Mahoney
. Luney was awarded the Queen's Service Medal in 1982 and later made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
. Luney was still supervising construction work in his 90s. Miles Warren said of him that he was a "pressure-wave of energy" and he called him "one of the great characters of Christchurch".
His favourite project was the Christchurch Town Hall
, which was built between 1969 and 1972. For the construction of the Westpac Centre in Addington
, he used "every piece of scaffolding available in the South Island
", according to his biographer John Coley.
sculpture on Worcester Boulevard in front of the Christchurch Arts Centre
.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, of which his favourite was Christchurch Town Hall
Christchurch Town Hall
The Christchurch Town Hall, since 2007 formally known as the Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts, opened in 1972, is Christchurch's premier performing arts centre. It is located in the central city on the banks of the Avon River overlooking Victoria Square. It is situated opposite the...
. His professional career spanned 80 years.
Early life
Luney was born in LytteltonLyttelton, New Zealand
Lyttelton is a port town on the north shore of Lyttelton Harbour close to Banks Peninsula, a suburb of Christchurch on the eastern coast of the South Island of New Zealand....
. His father was a carpenter who had immigrated from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The family struggled financially and Luney attended several primary schools, including one in Canada for one year. He attended Christchurch Boys' High School
Christchurch Boys' High School
Christchurch Boys' High School is a single sex state secondary school in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is situated on a 12 hectare site between the suburbs of Riccarton and Fendalton, 4 kilometres to the west of central Christchurch. The school also provides boarding facilities for 130 boys, in a...
for two years and was then apprenticed as a joiner.
Two events in his early life shaped Luney. He was unjustly partly held responsible for the death of his younger brother, and it made him determined to care for his family. Missing Scout
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
camp because his father could not afford the ten shillings made him value money and realise that it only came from effort. He saved carefully and persistently all his life and he hated unnecessary wastage.
Family
Luney met his wife to be in 1923 at the Christchurch Show. He employed her as office secretary and office manager and one of his intentions with that was to keep other men away from her. They married in 1930 and had four daughters.Professional career
Luney founded his own firm, C S Luney Ltd, in 1926. In the early years the company's projects were mainly garages for the growing number of car owners in Christchurch. In 1930 the firm completed its first major project, the Radiant Hall (now known as the Repertory Theatre, a Category II heritage building), which had been financed by Thomas Edmonds, the manufacturer of Edmonds Baking Powder.The firm continued to grow and went on to build a number of prominent Christchurch buildings, many designed by Warren and Mahoney
Miles Warren
Sir Miles Warren, ONZ, KBE, FNZIA is New Zealand's foremost modern architect. He apprenticed under Cecil Wood before studying architecture at the University of Auckland, eventually working at the London County Council where he was exposed to British New Brutalism...
. Luney was awarded the Queen's Service Medal in 1982 and later made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
. Luney was still supervising construction work in his 90s. Miles Warren said of him that he was a "pressure-wave of energy" and he called him "one of the great characters of Christchurch".
His favourite project was the Christchurch Town Hall
Christchurch Town Hall
The Christchurch Town Hall, since 2007 formally known as the Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts, opened in 1972, is Christchurch's premier performing arts centre. It is located in the central city on the banks of the Avon River overlooking Victoria Square. It is situated opposite the...
, which was built between 1969 and 1972. For the construction of the Westpac Centre in Addington
Addington, New Zealand
Addington is a major suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is sited south-west of the city centre.-Description:The suburb was named for the country residence of Bishop John Sumner, one of the leading members of the Canterbury Association....
, he used "every piece of scaffolding available in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
", according to his biographer John Coley.
Death and commemoration
Luney died on 18 November 2006, aged 101. His wife, who had died before him in 2001, had said of him that he was he "too busy to grow old". He was survived by their four daughters, twelve grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. During his lifetime Luney was chosen to be included in the Twelve Local HeroesTwelve Local Heroes
The Twelve Local Heroes is a series of bronze busts located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand on Worcester Boulevard outside the Arts Centre to commemorate twelve local Christchurch people who were prominent in their respective fields in the latter part of the 20th...
sculpture on Worcester Boulevard in front of the Christchurch Arts Centre
Christchurch Arts Centre
The Christchurch Arts Centre is a hub for arts, crafts and entertainment in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located in the neo-gothic former University of Canterbury buildings, the majority of which were designed by Benjamin Mountfort...
.
Notable buildings
Luney's firm has constructed the following notable buildings in Christchurch:- Christchurch City LibrariesChristchurch City LibrariesChristchurch City Libraries are operated by the Christchurch City Council and are a network of 19 libraries and a mobile book bus. The library was formerly known as the Canterbury Public Library.-Early history:...
- Christchurch Town HallChristchurch Town HallThe Christchurch Town Hall, since 2007 formally known as the Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts, opened in 1972, is Christchurch's premier performing arts centre. It is located in the central city on the banks of the Avon River overlooking Victoria Square. It is situated opposite the...
- Christchurch HospitalChristchurch HospitalChristchurch Hospital is the largest tertiary hospital in the South Island of New Zealand. The public hospital is in the centre of Christchurch city, on the edge of Hagley Park, and serves the wider Canterbury Region. It has the busiest emergency department in Australasia, and is one of four main...
- Princess Margaret Hospital
- CBS Canterbury Arena