Me and a friend made this movie for the Christchurch Heritage Competition. It was the largest funeral in Christchurch’s history. Photos for New Zealand Disasters: Ballantyne's Fire (18 November 1947) « Back to New Zealand Disasters: Ballantyne's Fire (18 November 1947) New Zealand … Photo: Christchurch Star Archive. On Tuesday, 18 November 1947, a fire engulfed Ballantynes department store in central Christchurch, New Zealand. Donna. Kaitangata Mine - Otago 1879; Brunner Mine explosion - West Coast, 1896; Ralph's Mine - Huntly, Waikato 1914; Strongman Mine - Greymouth, West Coast, 1967; Pike River Mine - Greymouth, West Coast, 2010; List by Date . Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Our district is currently at COVID-19 Alert Level 2, moving to Level 1 6am Sunday 7 March. In 1947 more than 300 people were employed in the department store of J. Ballantyne & Co, situated on the corner of Colombo Street and Cashel Street in the centre of Christchurch. Aerial View. Forty-one people died in the blaze. The women who had stayed in the office died in the fire. In 1947 more than 300 people were employed in the department store of J. Ballantyne & Co, situated on the corner of Colombo Street and Cashel Street in the centre of Christchurch. Ballantynes is a well-known department store in Christchurch. Fire at Ballantyne's department store, Christchurch, 18 November 1947. BiblioWeb: app03 Version 3.28.1 Last updated 2021/02/22 17:43, From Tuesday 23 February, you will have the…, Our district is currently at COVID-19 Alert Level, Local history: organisations & businesses, digitised resources about the Ballantynes' Fire, Ballantynes fire memorial photos at NZ History.net, Christchurch City Libraries' Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. When some minutes later the fire brigade had still not arrived, the salesman began to get concerned. The building was unsafe, and did not meet city building regulations, although it had been inspected and passed four years earlier. A Commission of Enquiry was appointed by the Government to investigate the circumstances of the disaster. Fatalities. 1947 The Ballantynes Fire, 18 November. (Alexander Turnbull Library) Ballantyne's department store fire (Alexander Turnbull Library) Funeral for the victims of the Ballantyne's Department Store fire, (Alexander Turnbull Library) The Ballantyne's Fire Memorial rebuilt after 2011 earthquake damage was repaired. Sailors of the ships Bellona and Arbytus (Royal New Zealand Navy) help to attack the flames [1947], CCL PhotoCD 15, IMG0038More staff left the building just as the centre of the department store exploded in flames, blowing out two large windows. On 18 November 1947 Ballantynes was razed by one of the worst fires in New Zealand’s history. This category has only the following subcategory. 41 people lost their lives, 39 staff and 2 of the company's auditors from the partnership of Stewart Beckett. Walker, pp.82 to 92 is reproduced as Schedule A. Tragically, the brigade did not log this call. Firemen battling the blaze. Can you tell us more about the information on this page? In every way, it was the worst fire in New Zealand’s history. Powered by Create … Our digitised resources… Nz History. Photograph taken on 26 November 1947, by an … In 1947 more than 300 people were employed in the department store of J. Ballantyne & Co, situated on the corner of Colombo Street and Cashel Street in … In mid-afternoon, when the fire began, an estimated 250–300 people were shopping at Ballantynes, which had a staff of 458. 1947 Civic funeral for 41 Ballantyne's fire victims. Comprising the Premises of Messrs J. Ballantyne and Co.Ltd, as at 18th Day of November 1947", presented by Mr P.C. Today is the 62nd anniversary of the fire at the Ballantynes Department store in Christchurch. A ceremony will be held to mark the anniversary of the fire which ripped through the grand Colombo Street store on the afternoon of November 18, 1947. The fire soon became out of control with the loss of 41 lives. The fire is thought to have started in one of the basements of the Congreves building. On November 18, 1947, as a fire took hold in the basement of Ballantynes department store in Christchurch, 500 employees kept working and hundreds … 0 Comments. Firefighters battling the blaze. 458 Ballantynes employees were at work that day, 18 th November 1947. On Tuesday, 18 November 1947, a fire engulfed Ballantynes department store in central Christchurch, New Zealand. Photo / Supplied. Description On 18 November 1947 a fire broke out in one of the cellars of the department store. Archived. The commission recommended changes in fire prevention and firefighting throughout New Zealand. His was the last rescue. Forty-one people died and the resulting Royal Commission recommended urgent changes to the building regulations and fire prevention and firefighting throughout the country. Most of the upper floors were staff work areas, including the dress-making department, and the credit and accounting department. 41 lives lost in New Zealand’s worst fire tragedy. The Ballantynes fire of 18th November 1947 in Christchurch, New Zealand, rsulted in the deaths of 41 people, all employees who were trapped by the fire because there was no evacuation plan. The Ballantynes fire was a tragic event in the history of New Zealand and for Christchurch and Ballantynes in particular. Ballantynes was Christchurch’s Queen of all Department Stores and she sure was grand! This building has endured two of NZ's worst disasters: the fire and the Christchurch earthquake. It remains the deadliest fire in New Zealand history. Donna. The Ballantyne's Department Store’s fire of 18 November 1947, in Christchurch, was the worst fire in New Zealand history, killing 41 people.