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The first part of the twentieth century was the heyday for the department store in New Zealand. The iconic department store, Hays, was a ‘household name’ in Christchurch from its incept…

Mark Twain ‘At Home’ in Christchurch in 1895

Articles, Lost Christchurch

One of the most famous literary figures of the nineteenth century to visit Christchurch, was author, raconteur, journalist and social critic, Mark Twain. Tired and elderly, yet a force to be recko…

Botany, Physics Department and Observatory, Canterbury College 1919

Articles, Lost Christchurch

The most beautiful quadrangles lead to the Botany and Physics Department and Observatory of the Canterbury College, University of New Zealand in 1919. In 1873 the Provincial Council passed the Cant…

Refugee and Philanthropist – Hyman Marks and the Christchurch Hospital, 18…

Articles, Lost Christchurch

In Christchurch Hospital’s busy, twenty first century entrance foyer, patients, staff and visitors hurry past a distinguished man immortalised in bronze. These days, many do not have time to …

1908 Holiday Trip to Christchurch, City of the Plains

Articles, Lost Christchurch

Christchurch Described Christchurch, New Zealand, is called the “City of the Plains” for its streets are as level as a billiard table, giving the visitor an impression that each street…

Domestic Maids and the Curse of the Bloody Handprint

Articles, Lost Christchurch

This charming advertisement designed in 1913, was printed onto postcards and distributed at the New Zealand High Commission Office in London to attract young, single women to the colony. Irregardle…

New Zealand’s Tallest Building – NZ Express Co. 1905

Articles, Lost Christchurch

New Zealand’s first skyscraper was built on the corner of Manchester and Hereford Streets between 1905 – 06 for the New Zealand Express Company. This state of the art seven storey buil…

Fire Eats Out Best Block of Christchurch 1908

Articles, Lost Christchurch

On the evening of February 7th, 1908 the headlines in the Star ‘screamed out’ A DISASTROUS FIRE, HUGE OUTBREAK IN THE CITY, CENTRAL BLOCK DEVASTATED, DAMAGE AMOUNTS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUS…

Christchurch, New Zealand, revisited

Articles, Lost Christchurch

(From our correspondent.) Christchurch (N.Z.) Ten years ago I visited Christchurch for the first time, and recorded my impressions of the place in the columns of The Daily News. A decade means a go…

Catholic Basilica – The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament

Articles, Lost Christchurch

For the first Catholics in Christchurch, the purchasing of land within the city boundaries was met with great difficulty. Their first hurdle was to secure land from the Anglican dominated hierarchy…