In the midst of Musgroves’ bustling yard, a quiet project has been unfolding—a labour of love that has brought a piece of Christchurch’s heritage back to life. It’s the story of a rare twin phone box, a relic that has become a symbol of community, teamwork, and the importance of preserving history.
The phone box arrived at Musgroves in 2019, acquired from a property in Merivale. It was in a state of severe disrepair, so dilapidated that the team had to brace and strap it just to move it. But for Liz and the Musgroves team, the decision to take on the restoration was a natural one.
– LizWe are recyclers, we’ve been around a long time, and it’s Christchurch history. The project was a way to honour the past, especially in a city that lost so much of its heritage in the earthquakes.
The Power of Community and Memory
The restoration process was filled with unexpected discoveries, none more surprising than an interaction with an elderly customer. She came into the yard and, upon seeing the phone box, shared a memory of a twin phone box she remembered from her youth. She recalled seeing one outside the High Street post office. This simple conversation gave Liz a crucial lead. Following the customer’s tip, Liz delved into the Christchurch Star archives. She found black-and-white photos from 1963 and, in the background, a faint glimpse of a twin phone box.
This discovery gave the team a potential link to the phone box’s original location and a newfound sense of purpose. As Liz puts it:
The biggest surprise was the lady telling us that she remembers a phone box in High Street, I don’t know what I would’ve done if she hadn’t pointed me and led me in that direction.
Community involvement didn’t stop there. Another customer, hearing about the project, created and donated a 3D-printed replica of an old-fashioned telephone for the interior of the phone box—a perfect detail for which original parts are impossible to find.
A Team Effort in Every Detail
While the phone box itself is a unique artifact, what truly makes the project special is the collective effort of the Musgroves team. From the workshop to the front office, everyone contributed.
The restoration was a true team-building exercise. Ben from the workshop took on the bulk of the repair work, meticulously using recycled wood and timber from the Musgroves yard.
We’ve made donations personally… so there’s a lot of the team in the phone box.
The team’s commitment to authenticity meant focusing on a “spruce up rather than a big repair job,” preserving the original character and history. They even took a chunk of the original paint to a paint shop to perfectly match the “Red Berry” colour.
A Talking Point for the Ages
Now on display in the yard, the phone box is a talking point for staff and customers alike. It has become a magnet for conversation, sparking memories and stories from visitors who remember a time before mobile phones. As Liz notes:
It’s such a talking point… you’re seeing people standing looking at it and chatting about it.
This twin phone box is more than just a restored object; it is a tangible piece of Christchurch’s past, a testament to the power of memory, and a symbol of the collaborative spirit of the Musgroves team.
Progress Shots
Paint we used for the restoration
