Arthur Dudley Dobson Memorial

The Arthur Dudley Dobson Memorial is a memorial obelisk at Arthur's Pass in New Zealand's Southern Alps. Unveiled in 1937 by former Prime Minister George Forbes, it commemorates Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson (1841–1934), after whom the pass is named.

For the memorial sometimes known as "Dobson Memorial", see Westland Explorers' Monument.

Arthur Dudley Dobson Memorial
The memorial in 2006
42.9079°S 171.5591°E / -42.9079; 171.5591
LocationArthur's Pass
DesignerCecil Wood
Typeobelisk
MaterialStone, reinforced concrete
Height25 feet (7.6 m)
Beginning dateJanuary 1937
Opening date18 April 1937 (1937-04-18)
Dedicated toArthur Dudley Dobson

History

Dobson died in 1934 and early in the following year, proposals were put forward to commemorate him at Arthur's Pass.[1] Organisations involved were The Sunlight League, the Youth Hostel Association, and the Canterbury Progress League. The Youth Hostel Association decided to approach architects for the project.[2] Cora Wilding, who was on the executives of two of those organisations, was part of a subcommittee that chose the site for the memorial.[1] The initial options considered were for shelters[3] and the more enclosed design was agreed upon; this was a small stone shelter of 8 by 8 feet (2.4 m × 2.4 m) with external seats around its perimeter.[4][5][6]

To raise the necessary funds, a conference of various organisations was initiated, to be chaired by Dan Sullivan, who at the time was mayor of Christchurch and member of parliament for the Avon electorate.[7] The Canterbury Progress League disliked the utilitarian aspect of the proposed shelter[8] and just prior to a large public meeting called by Sullivan for 8 August 1935, they presented an alternative memorial design: this was a stone obelisk designed by the architect Cecil Wood, assisted by the structural engineer Robert Campbell (1881–1955).[9] This stone pillar was to have a core of reinforced concrete, with local stone attached to form the obelisk. Bronze plaques at the base were to show Dobson's name on one side and provide an inscription on the other side.[10] The public meeting resolved that both memorials were to be built, with the stone pillar in the place originally chosen and the hut some distance closer to Arthur's Pass village. The Sunlight League and the Youth Hostel Association felt compelled to go ahead with the memorial shelter as they had been fundraising for that purpose since they had presented the design earlier in the year.[8]

From then on, the Canterbury Progress League was leading further initiatives. They were the contractual partner for the architect.[11] They had a fundraising brochure produced that contained a biography of Dobson written by the rector of Canterbury College, James Hight, and 12,000 copies were distributed throughout New Zealand.[12][13] The costs for both the stone column and the memorial hut were NZ£500 and half that amount had been received or spoken for by June 1936, with the funds previously raised for the shelter combined with the funds for the obelisk.[14] Construction of the stone column was awarded through tender in December 1936 to Silvester and Company, who started work the following month.[15][16]

By early March 1937, it was reported that the monument was nearing completion. The Progress League had drafted text for the memorial plaque that they put to Dobson's family for approval; the draft was used with a change to the date format (from "March 12, 1864" to "March 12th 1864":[17]

To the memory of Arthur Dudley Dobson Kt.,
Pioneer, Explorer, Surveyor, Civil Engineer,
Who discovered this pass March 12, 1864.
Born Islington, London, England, 1841
Died Christchurch, New Zealand, 1934.

The memorial, which measures 25 feet (7.6 m) in height, was unveiled on 18 April 1937 by the former prime minister, George Forbes. The Railways Department put on a special train from Christchurch for the 700 people who attended. Other dignitaries who attended included R. M. D. Thomson (chairman of Tarawera County Council, covering the Canterbury area up to the Main Divide), the Hon. William Hayward (MLC; representing Christchurch City Council), Walter Moffatt (a former mayor of Nelson), and Frederick William Johnston (the former chairman of the Canterbury Progress League who was instrumental in advancing the memorial).[18][19]

The plans for the shelter by the Sunlight League and the Youth Hostel Association were dropped, although the Arthur's Park National Park Board had a shelter built near the memorial. The plans were approved in April 1937 and the shelter had been constructed by the following June.[20][21]

Location

The memorial is located on a rock knoll adjacent to State Highway 73 near the highest point of the pass. It is located in Selwyn District, Canterbury, adjacent of the boundary with the region of West Coast. The Department of Conservation maintains the Arthur's Pass Walking Track that connects Arthur's Pass village to the memorial at the mountain pass; the 6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi) trip (one way) takes 2 hours 40 minutes for a return trip.[22]

Heritage listing

The memorial is listed in the Selwyn district plan with registration number H110 for its historical and social significance, its cultural significance, and its architectural and aesthetic significance. It also has technological and craftsmanship significance due to the construction quality and the involvement of Campbell as a leading civil engineer. It is a regional landmark that is often photographed being located next to a state highway in a picturesque setting.[23][24]

Memorial illustrations
  • Cecil Wood's sketch of the memorial
    Cecil Wood's sketch of the memorial
  • Historic photo
    Historic photo
  • Name inscription
    Name inscription
  • Dedication plaque
    Dedication plaque

References
  1. "Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson". The Press. Vol. LXXI, no. 21466. 7 May 1935. p. 10. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  2. "The Youth Hostel Association". The Press. Vol. LXXI, no. 21446. 11 April 1935. p. 8. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  3. "Sunlight League". The Press. Vol. LXXI, no. 21496. 11 June 1935. p. 3. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  4. "General news". The Press. Vol. LXXI, no. 21471. 13 May 1935. p. 10. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  5. "Dobson Memorial Shelter at Arthur's Pass". The Star. Vol. LXVI, no. 20638. 12 June 1935. p. 6. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  6. "General news". The Press. Vol. LXXI, no. 21490. 4 June 1935. p. 10. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  7. "Christchurch news". The Timaru Herald. Vol. CXXXIX, no. 20146. 28 June 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  8. "Memorials to pioneer". The Press. Vol. LXXI, no. 21545. 7 August 1935. p. 10. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  9. "Proposed memorial to Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson". The Press. Vol. LXXI, no. 21544. 6 August 1935. p. 5. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  10. "A memorial designed". The Press. Vol. LXXI, no. 21544. 6 August 1935. p. 10. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  11. Helms, Ruth (1996). The architecture of Cecil Wood (PDF) (PhD). University of Canterbury. pp. 100f.
  12. "Progress League meets". The Press. Vol. LXXII, no. 21700. 6 February 1936. p. 4. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  13. "A. D. Dobson Memorial". Otago Daily Times. No. 22800. 8 February 1936. p. 7. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  14. "General news". The Press. Vol. LXXII, no. 21821. 29 June 1936. p. 8. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  15. "Dudley Dobson Memorial". The Press. Vol. LXXII, no. 21970. 19 December 1936. p. 14. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  16. "Dudley Dobson Memorial". The Press. Vol. LXXIII, no. 21984. 7 January 1937. p. 12. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  17. "Memorial to Sir Arthur Dobson". The Press. Vol. LXXIII, no. 22032. 4 March 1937. p. 10. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  18. "A Canterbury Pioneer". The Press. Vol. LXXIII, no. 22070. 19 April 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  19. "Unveiling of memorial". The Press. Vol. LXXIII, no. 22064. 12 April 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  20. "Arthur's Pass Board". The Press. Vol. LXXIII, no. 22063. 10 April 1937. p. 21. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  21. "Arthur's Pass hut". The Press. Vol. LXXIII, no. 22110. 4 June 1937. p. 20. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  22. "Arthur's Pass Walking Track". Department of Conservation. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  23. "SDC District Plan Review – Built Heritage Items" (PDF). Selwyn District Council. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  24. "Appendix 3: schedule of heritage items". Selwyn District Council. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
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