When Christchurch was Young Written for Ellesmere Guardian by Mr W. A. Taylor, 1944 The Avon river (Otakaro) predates its sister stream the Heathcote (Opawaho) as a navigable course to Christchurch…
Excitement at Lyttelton The ordinary routine of running the express train on the No. 2 wharf at Lyttelton and transferring the passengers to the waiting ferry steamer was disturbed on the evening o…
Cathedral Square hosted one of New Zealand’s most significant historic events after the armistice was signed by the Western Allies and the Central Powers on 11th November 1918 in Paris, Franc…
A colourful account of Maori and early European life before the arrival of the first four ships. Jimmy Robinson, who lived as a ‘Pakeha Maori’ at Akaroa and helped raise the British fla…
“To tell you is a great task, for I can assure you it is a most awful country,” wrote James Boot from Christchurch, New Zealand in letter to his parents in Nottingham, England in June, …
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 …
A Tale of Convicts, Ship Wrecks, Strange Family Relations, and a £500 Bequest. Before the Canterbury Settlement was inaugurated, a young Australian lad landed at Port Cooper in the company of his f…
New Zealand’s largest and most iconic booksellers, publishers and printing company was Whitcombe & Tombs of Christchurch. It was established in 1882 by Mr. George Hawkes Whitcombe, a seem…
“The most historic bridge in Christchurch” The iconic stone arch which spans over Cashel Street bridge – linking Cambridge with Oxford Terrace is “a visible symbol” wh…
By Fabian Bell The Avon is a lovely river. Of course I know that many people will say that it is no better than a ditch, &c. I pity their want of taste. Of course the stream is narrow and does …
It is midday on the busy intersection of Manchester, High and Lichfield Streets when this photograph was taken from the corner of Bedford Row c. 1904. The street is full of activity as shoppers mak…
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…
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…
Wednesday 28 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-28-IMG_0911 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Tuesday 27 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-27-IMG_0669 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Tuesday 27 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-27-IMG_0749 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Wednesday 28 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-28-IMG_0897 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Wednesday 28 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-28-IMG_0814 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Tuesday 27 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-27-IMG_0736 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Wednesday 28 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-28-IMG_0905 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Tuesday 27 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-27-IMG_0748 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Wednesday 28 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-28-IMG_0819 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Tuesday 27 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-27-IMG_0751 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Wednesday 28 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-28-IMG_0895 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Wednesda y28 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-28-IMG_0906 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Wednesday 28 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-28-IMG_0898 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Wednesday 28 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-28-IMG_0824 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Wednesday 28 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-28-IMG_0930 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Wednesday 28 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-28-IMG_0925 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Wednesday 28 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-28-IMG_0812 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.