How many records does the archive hold?

63,896 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.

“"Esplanade"”, the shelf

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

338 records matching 96 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 1900s
17 Jan 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Apr 1904
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 4-4-1904) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1904
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 13-4-1904) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 16-4-1904) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 April 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 May 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 04 May 1904) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 May 1904
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 5-5-1904) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 14-5-1904) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1904
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 17-5-1904) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1904
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 18-5-1904) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Otago Daily Times 29-6-1904) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jul 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 7-5-1904) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1904
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 8-4-1904) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1904
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 23-11-1904) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 June 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
15 Jul 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 15 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jul 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jul 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1905
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 15 August 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1905
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Star, 24 October 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 November 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
15 Dec 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
30 Dec 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 January 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 24 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Mar 1906
NEWS NOTES (Grey River Argus, 30 March 1906) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
6 Oct 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 October 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 October 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1906
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 October 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1907
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
14 Oct 1907
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 14 October 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1907
Taranaki Herald. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1907. FROZEN MEAT. (Taranaki Herald, 04 December 1907) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1908
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 March 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
27 Mar 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 March 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1908
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 March 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 March 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 April 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 April 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 April 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 April 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Apr 1908
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 April 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Apr 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 April 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Apr 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 April 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 May 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 09 May 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 June 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 June 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
15 Jun 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 June 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 June 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1908
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1909
MAGISTERIAL. (Star, 24 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1909
The Grey River Argus and Blackball News. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26th, 1909. (Grey River Argus, 26 February 1909) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1909
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 12 March 1909) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Mar 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1909
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 June 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1910s
1 Jan 1910
The Esplanade, Sumner by Aldersley, David James, 1862-1928 · Photographs / He Whakaahua · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
4 Dec 1913
FEDERATION LEADER SENTENCED. (Ashburton Guardian, 04 December 1913) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1913
CASE AGAINST W. T. MILLS DISMISSED (Evening Post, 04 December 1913) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1914
NEW BRIGHTON BACHES (NZ Truth, 10 October 1914) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1915
THE 26th LIST (Evening Post, 20 May 1915) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1915
THE SOCIAL SPHERE (Observer, 04 September 1915) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1916
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Evening Post, 14 April 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Aug 1916
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 07 August 1916) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1917
WELLINGTON RECRUITING DISTRICT (No. 5) (Evening Post, 13 February 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1917
MR JAMES ASHLEY. (Ellesmere Guardian, 31 March 1917) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1917
8530 MEN CALLED UP (Evening Post, 08 May 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
6 Jun 1917
WELLINGTON RECRUITING DISTRICT (No. 5) (Evening Post, 06 June 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Aug 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 24 August 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1917
15000 MEN CALLED UP (Evening Post, 03 September 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
2 Oct 1917
FIRST DIVISION (Evening Post, 02 October 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 Jul 1918
NEWS OF THE DAY. (Colonist, 10 July 1918) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1919
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (NZ Truth, 13 September 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1919
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (NZ Truth, 20 September 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1920s
1 Jan 1920
Sumner's Esplanade, Christchurch by Roland Searle · Photography · Te Papa Collections Online · Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
6 Jan 1921
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Hawera & Normanby Star, 06 January 1921) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Dec 1922
WOMEN IN PRINT. (Evening Post, 28 December 1922) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1923
POISONING CASE. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 09 February 1923) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1924
RETICENCE AND DECORUM. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 17 December 1924) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1925
Popular South Island Seaside Resort: The Esplanade and Beach At Summer, Near Christchurch Auckland Weekly News · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
26 Mar 1925
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 26 March 1925) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Mar 1925
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 28 March 1925) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Dec 1925
IN MEMORIAM. (Evening Post, 12 December 1925) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Oct 1926
CRUSHED TO DEATH (Evening Post, 25 October 1926) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1927
SMALL BURGLARIES (Evening Post, 20 May 1927) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1927
HEAD-ON COLLISION (Evening Post, 07 June 1927) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1928
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 14 April 1928) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1930s
1 Jan 1930
Sumner, Christchurch by New Zealand Herald · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries · about 1 place
1 Nov 1930
AMBULANCE ART UNION (Evening Post, 01 November 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1930
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Ellesmere Guardian, 30 December 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1931
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 09 January 1931) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1931
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 16 January 1931) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1931
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 20 January 1931) Ellesmere Guardian · 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.

“"Esplanade"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch