How many records does the archive hold?

65,200 records about Christchurch, every one linked at the provider that keeps the original.

How far back does the archive reach?

1800, the oldest record on file.

Where do the records come from?

30 collections: council archives, Papers Past, DigitalNZ’s partners, cemetery registers, the heritage list itself. The shelf says what exists and where it lives.

Are these documents verified?

They are leads and citations, not evidence, a record says a document exists and where to read it. What a document actually says is only claimed once somebody has read it; those readings live on the place pages.

“"Barbadoes Street"”, the shelf

Every record the archive holds about Christchurch, the oldest first. The originals live at the provider each row links to.

900 records matching 94 of these 100 with their text read Papers Past · Canterbury Stories · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Te Papa Collections Online · National Publicity Studios black and white file prints · TAPUHI · Canterbury Museum · Auckland Museum Collections · New Zealand Gazette · Digital Public Library of America · V.C. Browne & Son NZ Aerial Photograph Collection · Christchurch City Libraries Flickr · Hocken Digital Collections · Museums Victoria · Air Force Museum of New Zealand Photograph Collection · Wellington City Council Archives · The New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero · New Zealand Electronic Text Collection · Christchurch City Libraries Heritage Images Collection · Lincoln University Living Heritage: Tikaka Tuku Iho · Flickr · Radio New Zealand · Alexander Turnbull Library Flickr · Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki · Te Hikoi Museum · iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao · Manawatū Heritage · Canterbury Photography Museum · Akaroa Museum · Hawke's Bay Museum

the 1870s
10 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 18 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Oct 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 21 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1879
EXTENSION OF GAS MAINS. (Star, 14 May 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Aug 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 October 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
20 Oct 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 October 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1879
RECEPTION OF BISHOP REDWOOD. (Star, 06 November 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
the 1880s
1 Jan 1880
Barbadoes St Cemetery plan - area 4A, rows A-N Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries · about 1 place
1 Jan 1880
Barbadoes St Cemetery plan - area 4A, rows A-L Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries · about 1 place
1 Jan 1880
Sewer sections by Christchurch Drainage Board · No. 1 Pumphouse · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
25 Jun 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jul 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 10 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 31 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1880
Page 13 Advertisements Column 2 (New Zealand Tablet, 10 September 1880) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1880
Page 10 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 24 September 1880) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1881
Page 10 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 04 March 1881) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1881
Page 10 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 11 March 1881) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 08 April 1881) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1881
Page 10 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 20 May 1881) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1881
Page 10 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 03 June 1881) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1881
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 07 June 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 June 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1881
Page 19 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 24 June 1881) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1881
Looal & General. (Star, 02 November 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 November 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1882
Barbadoes St Cemetery plan - areas 4B, rows O-Aa Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries · about 1 place
1 Jan 1882
Barbadoes St Cemetery plan - areas 4B, rows M-T Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries · about 1 place
10 Jun 1882
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 June 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1882
Register No. 3 by Church of England · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries · about 1 place
20 Dec 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 20 December 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 23 February 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1883
Local & General. (Star, 07 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Mar 1883
Local & General. (Star, 29 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 July 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1883
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 28 August 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1883
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 October 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1883
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 November 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 November 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Dec 1883
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 06 December 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1883
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 December 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1883
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 31 December 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 05 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 09 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jan 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (West Coast Times, 17 January 1884) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 31 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 20 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 01 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 15 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 15 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 11 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Nov 1884
Christchurch Cathedral. (Star, 01 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read

Most of these originals are not republishable here, the link goes to the provider that keeps them. A search result is a lead, not evidence: what a document actually says is only claimed once somebody has read it, and those readings live on the place pages.

“"Barbadoes Street"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch