Restoration complete on historic stone shelter

An historic stone shelter that sits at the top of the Bridle Path and honours the pioneering women who courageously came to Christchurch in the mid 19th century has been restored.

The hexagonal-shaped shelter was built using volcanic stone and is a well-known landmark on the Bridle Path – the route used by the first settlers to cross the Port Hills from Lyttelton to the fledgling settlement of Christchurch.

The restored Pioneer Women's Shelter.

Perched atop the summit, where the early settlers first viewed the Canterbury Plains and the site for Christchurch after their long sea journey, the shelter still offers great views of the Canterbury Plains as well as Lyttelton Harbour.

The shelter bears the inscription They Passed This Way and was built to commemorate the courage and hard work of the women who were among the early English settlers.

Like many of Christchurch’s historic stone buildings the shelter was damaged in the earthquakes but over the past few months it has been carefully restored.

“We’re thrilled that we’ve been able to restore this historic landmark and that it can once again provide a resting point for those making the trip over the Bridle Path,’’ said Christchurch City Council Heritage Programme Manager Richie Moyle.

“It’s a wonderful spot to sit and imagine what it was like for the pioneers who arrived here and to reflect on how things have changed.’’

Mr Moyle said there was still one remaining item in the historic shelter awaiting restoration – a memorial plaque depicting the pioneer women and their children arriving in the district.

The bronze plaque carries the words: 'On this spot the pioneer women of Canterbury and their children rested after their climb from the Port of Lyttelton and gazed with awe but courage upon the hills and plains of Canterbury where they were to make their home.’

“Sadly the decorative middle section of the plaque has been stolen, but we are having it re-cast and hope to have it back in place within a few months. It will be the final piece in the jigsaw,’’ Mr Moyle said.