Post services were offered from the building until 2000 when it was re-purposed to house a Christchurch tourist information centre and a restaurant, café and offices.

The building was planned to reopen in 2023 in stages, and eventually include a restaurant, shops, and a visitor information centre, under the name "The Grand".

[9] During the 1992 redesign and redevelopment process of the Square, the road in front of the former Chief Post Office was closed.

[9] In 1863, the New Zealand House of Representatives noted an important change was to take place in Canterbury, in that Christchurch would replace Lyttelton as the principal post town.

[8] The foundation stone was laid by Hon Edward Richardson, a Christchurch member of parliament who until earlier in the year had been the first Minister of Public Works,[17] on Queen's Birthday on 24 May 1877.

In his speech, Richardson reflected on the lengthy delay of starting construction, owing to the controversy about the building site.

The mayor, Fred Hobbs, then used his address to lobby the attending members of parliament for a Resident Magistrate's Court (which was built in 1880/81[18]).

[19][20] Soon after laying the foundation stone, Clayton died and the work was supervised by his assistant Pierre Finch Martineau Burrows.

[21] Of the four other central city buildings owned by Crystal Imports, two were demolished, including Warner's Hotel on the opposite side of the Square.

[12] The building is registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category I heritage item, with the registration number 291.