Created by baking powder manufacturer Thomas Edmonds in 1929 to celebrate his 50th year of living in the city, it was used initially as a place for brass bands to play music.

[2] Listening to brass bands, which were subsidised by the city council, was a common form of entertainment at the time.

The rotunda was formally opened on 11 November 1929, when Edmonds's wife cut the ribbon, and nine bands played.

[3] Due to a decline in the public interest of listening to band concerts, the rotunda gradually became unused.

[5][2] After its supporting structures were damaged in the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes,[5][6] the rotunda was added to the city's demolition list in March 2012 because it was considered dangerous.

[14][6] The dome was placed onto the rotunda in November 2020;[13][15] its weight required a crane to be transported from the North Island.

[6][18] The rotunda is located in Cambridge Terrace and overlooks the Avon River / Ōtākaro, near the Manchester Street Bridge.

[13] There is a semi-circular seat to the east of the rotunda, and the west is a shelter made of reinforced concrete, used initially to hold band equipment.