Dates

• Existence: 1923 - 1982

Biography

The City Engineers Department originated out of the post of City Surveyor and Engineer. The role of City Surveyor was instituted in 1862, the same year that Christchurch City Council was established. One of the earliest people to hold the position of City Surveyor and Engineer was Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson, who held the post from 1901-1921. From 1919 Dobson managed an Electrical Department which included a Waterworks Department and a Superintendent of Parks and Gardens. By 1921 a separate Electricity Department had been established. The City Engineers’ Department is first listed in the CCC Handbook of 1923-1924 with A.R. Galbraith appointed the City Engineer in 1925.

The City Engineer's Department became the City Works and Planning Department in 1982.

Citation:

Report to the Christchurch City Council Engineers' Department: History of the City Engineers' Department, Clover, G.A. (Archivist) S:\COR - BUSINESS AND INFORMATION SERVICES\BIS - Records and Document Management\Archives\Customer Queries\Heritage CPL City Engineers History 1.JPG and CPL City Engineers History 2.JPG