Julius von Haast and his Milkcan Seismometer

Articles, Lost Christchurch

German born colonist, Sir Julius von Haast, was an explorer specialising in geology. Amongst his many achievements was the founding of the Canterbury Museum. Born Johann Franz von Haast in 1822, in…

1901 Earthquake – a warning for Greengrocers & ‘Portly Ladies’

Articles, Lost Christchurch

Earthquakes in Christchurch are not unusual events, we’ve been beset with them since European settlement began – and no doubt long before. What is most disturbing of all is that our Eur…

In Defense of the Christchurch Girl

Articles, Lost Christchurch

According to the Press, feeble out of doors, useless in domestic duties, the Christchurch girl’s most deplorable feature is her absolute lack of brains and mental culture…

Motor Cycle Racing at New Brighton Sands, 1905

Articles, Lost Christchurch

The tide at New Brighton could go out a long way and the sand was hard, making motor and bicycle racing on New Brighton beach a popular past time that would draw the crowds. Many cycling and motor …

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…

Canterbury College students out for sport on Capping Day

Articles, Lost Christchurch

The Canterbury College Students’ procession as part of the capping festival took place on the morning of 13 June 1915, and despite the enormous crowd of spectators that crammed every inch of …

A Poor Joke! A Premonition of What Was Yet to Come.

Articles, Lost Christchurch

This photographically produced postcard of Christchurch’s Provincial Government buildings, appearing twisted and warped, was a semi-humorous card sent out at Christmas after the Murchison ear…

Remembering Lost Christchurch

Articles, Lost Christchurch

Our city is a repository for the social and historical narrative of our past Each street, wall, facade, interior is an integral part of the people who walked passed them, shopped in them, worked in…

Why Our Historic Buildings Are Important

Articles, Lost Christchurch

Up until February 22nd, 2011, the city of Christchurch was a unique, historic and cultural living and breathing entity. Inherited from a long list of valuable contributors dating back to its incept…