"The need to stabilise the basement area of 'Te Koraha', while leaving as much as possible of the existing structure intact was a significant part of the remedial works required to rectify the earthquake damage." says Neville Newbold, New Business Manager for Fletcher Construction. "I had read Firth's technical data on the properties of Quake Foam and that it was a low strength concrete and after discussions with the project engineers, Alan Reay Consultants and architects Wilkie Bruce, we were given the green light to proceed with the repair."

"The idea of Quake Foam came about from a desire to find a use for the liquefaction," said Dominic Sutton, Regional Sales Manager for Firth. "We took samples of the silt to analyse its characteristics to see if it could be used as a substitute for sand in any of our products. It's ironic that the liquefaction that caused the damage to this historic building is now being used in its repair."

"The requirement of the Heritage advisors was that if at any time in the future restoration of the basement was required the fill could be easily removed and the floor could be replaced," adds Neville. "Firth had communicated with us that they had developed this new product and advised us of Quake Foam's properties. It was the perfect fix for this project to stabilise the foundation of this very precious part of Christchurch's history."

The House

In 1884 a young lawyer, Arthur Edgar Gravenor Rhodes, purchased nine acres in the suburb of Merivale on which he intended to develop an establishment suitable for a future wife and family. The development of Te Koraha, or The Wilderness as he called it, began in 1886 with the construction of the first part of the Tudoresque house. In 1892 Rhodes married Rose Moorhouse who was beautiful, fashionable and popular, and the couple quickly became leaders of the social set.

The high point of the Rhodes' tenure at 'The House', as Te Koraha became known, was in 1901 when Arthur was elected mayor of Christchurch, and in a grand gesture offered his home as the royal residence for the June visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later King George V and Queen Mary). Arthur died in 1922 with Te Koraha passing to his son, Tahu Rhodes, who offered it for sale. The house was subsequently purchased by the Gibson sisters for their school, Rangi Ruru. The property remains today as a large and prominent Presbyterian girls' school.