Snow-covered Christchurch

Possibly June 1935

Page 18 of photograph album. Scenes across Christchurch following a dump of snow. [Top left] Snow-capped Port Hills, taken from the roof of Bunting & Co. Christchurch Technical College and the Christchurch Press Company store buildings are visible in the foreground. Caption: Cashmere Hills after snowfall. [Top right] View looking south towards the Port Hills. Snow-covered rooves and the large chimney of Bunting & Co are visible. Caption: Christchurch under Snow. [Bottom left] Latimer Square covered in snow. Caption: Lattimer Square under Snow. [Bottom right] Portrait of Ian, Jack and Wilfred standing on a snow covered roof, possibly at Bunting & Co. Caption: Ian, Jack & Wilfred.

Contributors note: "The photographs in the album were taken by my father, Edward (Eddie) Walsh. He was one of ten children. His father, George Senior, died due to workplace poisoning when Eddie was 16, and to compensate the family for their loss, my father was offered a position at George's place of work, Bunting and Co. The family was very religious, and during World War II, was a conscientious objector. He was imprisoned at the detention camp at Balmoral, in the Hurunui. As he was very mechanically minded, my father worked on the forestry blocks fixing the trucks, which meant he had some freedom from the detention camp. At the time of his imprisonment, he was married, with a son. My mother had relocated to the area and was helping a family with six children under five – a set of triplets, twins and a singleton. Before moving to the Hurunui, she and her son lived with her mother-in-law in Vogel Street. Having a husband as a conscientious object was very difficult for her when meeting other women whose husbands were fighting in the war."

Creator: Eddie Walsh

Contributor: Walsh Family

Source: Entry in the 2025 Christchurch City Libraries Photo Hunt.

Reference ID: CCL-PH25-2019

Uploaded by: CCL Photo Hunt

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