How many records does the archive hold?

62,792 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.

“Station One”, the shelf

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

4,279 records matching 99 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 1850s
1 Mar 1856
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 01 March 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1856
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 16 April 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jun 1856
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 June 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1856
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 20 September 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 May 1857
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 13 May 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Jun 1857
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 13 June 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Aug 1857
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 August 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1857
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 29 August 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Oct 1857
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 10 October 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 02 December 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1857
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 05 December 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1857
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 09 December 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1857
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 12 December 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 10 April 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Apr 1858
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 28 April 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jun 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 05 June 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 09 June 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 28 August 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Nov 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 13 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Feb 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 02 February 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 23 February 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
26 Feb 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 February 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Mar 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 02 March 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Mar 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 02 March 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 05 March 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Mar 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 05 March 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1859
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 09 March 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 09 March 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1859
RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, LYTTELTON. (Lyttelton Times, 02 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1859
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 06 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Apr 1859
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 13 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1859
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 30 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 May 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 07 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jun 1859
NEW ZEALAND PROVINCES. (Otago Witness, 18 June 1859) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Aug 1859
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 31 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
8 Oct 1859
LIST OF RETURNED LETTERS. (Lyttelton Times, 08 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 12 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 15 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1859
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 22 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 November 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 14 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 17 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 17 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 24 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
1 Jan 1860
Photograph: Railway Train at Ferrymead Station 1860 by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
7 Jan 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jan 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 14 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jan 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 28 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Feb 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 04 February 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
14 Apr 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 14 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 21 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 May 1860
Page 9 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
19 May 1860
Page 9 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 19 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1860
RETURNED LETTERS (Lyttelton Times, 11 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 29 August 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Sept 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 05 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
5 Sept 1860
SUPREME COURT.-Criminal Sittings. (Lyttelton Times, 05 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Sept 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 05 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1860
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 September 1860) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Sept 1860
CANTERBURY RIFLE CORPS. (Lyttelton Times, 12 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 15 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Sept 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 29 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 03 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Oct 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 06 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Oct 1860
RETURNED LETTERS (Lyttelton Times, 13 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · no. 2.9 · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
13 Oct 1860
RETURNED LETTERS (Lyttelton Times, 13 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · no. 2.7 · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 24 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Nov 1860
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 03 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 28 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 01 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 05 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 08 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 12 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 12 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 15 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1860
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 22 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 26 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 26 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 29 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 02 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 09 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 09 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 09 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 12 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 16 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · 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.

“Station One”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch