Bridge of Remembrance The Bridge of Remembrance is one of two main war memorial s in Christchurch , New Zealand . It is dedicated to those who died in World War I , and serves as a memorial for those who participated in two World Wars as well as subsequent conflicts in Borneo , Korea , Malaya , and Vietnam . Owned by Christchurch City Council , it is located on the Cashel Street Bridge at the head of City Mall . Geography . The archway was built over the east end of the Cashel Street bridge that links Oxford and Cambridge Terraces over the Avon River . It became a pedestrian precinct on Anzac Day ( 25 April ) in 1977 . East of it is the business district and the main pedestrian mall . In the area between the bridge and Victoria Square are the Floral Clock , Law Courts , Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings , Our City and the Scott Statue . History . The idea of building a Bridge of Remembrance was first raised in a letter to The Press on 24 July 1919 , written by Mrs Wyn Irwin . The suggestion found support from the public . Construction began on 23 January 1923 . The cornerstone was laid by Lord Jellicoe , Governor - General and Admiral of the Fleet on Anzac Day , 25 April 1923 , when the religious blessing was invoked by Archbishop Churchill Julius . The memorial was unveiled on 11 November 1924 , Armistice Day , by Lord Jellicoe . From King Edward Barracks further west on Cashel Street , soldiers crossed the Avon River at this location , marching off to the railway station in Moorhouse Avenue to fight in three wars . Stage 1 of the bridge ' s refurbishment occurred in 1989 , Stage 2 began two years later , being completed in 1992 with a commemorative plaque dedication ceremony held on 21 June . The bridge was closed to motorised traffic in 1976 , several years prior to the adjacent Cashel Street closed to vehicular traffic ( on 11 January 1982 ) . In February 2011 , it was targeted by vandals who sprayed it with graffiti . Only a fortnight later , the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake struck , damaging the arch . Permanent repair and earthquake strengthening is estimated to cost over NZ $ 2m . Christchurch City Council initially considered placing a temporary steel structure around the arch , but , at NZ $ 430 , 000 , have since dismissed this idea as being too expensive . The Returned Services ' Association expressed dismay at the decision to not go ahead with the temporary work , citing fears of losing the heritage structure altogether in another strong aftershock , in just the same way as happened to the Lyttelton Timeball Station in the June aftershock . Design . The architectural design competition was won by the firm Prouse and Gummer , with William Gummer undertaking the design work . The arch ' s central frame includes the inscription " Quid non pro patria " ( " What will a man not do for his country " ) . There are several unit memorials , and a plaque to Charles Upham . The arch style bridge is ornamented . Symbolic features of the memorial include a cross , torches , coat of arms , laurel wreaths , Latin inscription , fascine s and rosemary decoration . There are also decorative lions that were carved by Frederick George Gurnsey ( 1868 – 1953 ) . Heritage listing . On 2 April 1985 , the Bridge of Remembrance was registered as a Category I heritage structure with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust , with registration number 289 .