Down Town from High Street

Articles, Lost Christchurch

The pace of town appears leisurely as pedestrians meander across High Street, while several trams slowly move past them c. 1929.  There are a large number of men on they bicycles – perhaps th…

Christchurch’s First Town Hall, High Street

Articles, Lost Christchurch

During the year 1857, developments moved closer towards making colonial Christchurch a working city. The Bridle Path opening in March, provided emigrants direct access to and from Lyttelton, on a s…

S & H Nashelski’s Melbourne House

Articles, Lost Christchurch

Beside Christchurch’s Town Hall, stood Solomon Nashelski’s hardware and ironmonger’s shop.  Called ‘Melbourne House’, this small shop was later replaced with a permane…

The Earthquake Wave at Lyttelton, 1868

Articles, Lost Christchurch

The town of Lyttelton on Saturday morning (15 August) was thrown into a state of great excitement owing to a most extraordinary rise and fall of the water in the harbour…

From Dunstable House to J. Ballantyne & Co. Department Store

Articles, Lost Christchurch

Synonomous for offering the best quality goods and clothing since its humble beginnings back in 1854, is the iconic department store of Ballantynes. On the new town’s swampy plains, newly arr…

New Zealand’s Most Beautiful Street 1932

Articles, Lost Christchurch

An open field along the west side of Manchester street, bounded by a row of well-grown English Poplars and known as the Circus Paddock, was regularly used for touring circuses which came to town.

The Clarendon Hotel – from town house to public house fit for Royalty

Articles, Lost Christchurch

Christchurch’s newest and grandest hotel in the first decade of the 1900s was the Clarendon Hotel situated on the corner of Oxford Terrace and Worcester Street. It replaced the former two-sto…