page_title: Chief Post Office, Christchurch
section_title: Geography
hierarchical_section_title: Chief Post Office, Christchurch / Geography
caption_attribution_description: English: View of Cathedral Square, Christchurch, New Zealand, taken from the top of ChristChurch Cathedral's spire.
context_page_description: The Chief Post Office or Christchurch Central Post Office, originally known as the Government Building, is located in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, New Zealand. The building was initially a post office with other government services. Until the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, it was a Visitor Information Centre but has since been inaccessible, as access for the public to the central city has been removed. It was the site of the first telephone exchange in New Zealand. The structure is registered with Heritage New Zealand as a Category I heritage building.
context_section_description: The building is located at 31 Cathedral Square, and is situated in the Square's southwest corner. Footpaths and a cabstand were added after the post office opened. During the 1992 redesign and redevelopment process of the Square, the road in front of the former Chief Post Office was closed.
caption: The building's setting within Cathedral Square in 2009
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