How many records does the archive hold?

61,639 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.

“Victoria Square”, the shelf

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

1,543 records matching 98 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
3 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
25 Sept 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (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
28 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 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 2 (Star, 01 October 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
2 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 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
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
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
8 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 February 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Feb 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 February 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Mar 1879
Land and Water. (Otago Witness, 01 March 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Apr 1879
MEETING OF CREDITORS. MR. R. J. DUNCAN. (Evening Post, 05 April 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Apr 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1879
THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 01 May 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
15 May 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 15 May 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 21 May 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1879
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Otago Witness, 24 May 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 May 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 31 May 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1879
The Star. THURSDAY, JULY 24, 1879, (Star, 24 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Sept 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 November 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 December 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
1 Jan 1880
Francis William Dutch 2016 Photo Hunt · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
23 Jan 1880
Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 23 January 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Feb 1880
THE BANK RETURNS. (Evening Post, 14 February 1880) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 04 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1880
LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF ST. MARX'S CHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 06 October 1880) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1880
MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 09 October 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 02 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
1 Jan 1881
The Rink and Supreme Court Panorama of Christchurch, New Zealand, from Cathedral tower · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
13 Jan 1881
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 13 January 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jun 1881
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 04 June 1881) Star · 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
4 Aug 1881
Local & General. (Star, 04 August 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Sept 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 September 1881) Star · 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
8 Nov 1881
Local & General. (Star, 08 November 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jan 1882
Local & General. (Star, 12 January 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1882
The Star. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1882. (Star, 24 February 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1882
Local & General. (Star, 14 March 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Mar 1882
The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, MARCH IT, 1882. (Otago Daily Times, 17 March 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Apr 1882
NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL EXHI- (Otago Daily Times, 11 April 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Apr 1882
THE EXHIBITION. (Star, 11 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1882
A MISLEADING COMPARISON. (Evening Post, 14 April 1882) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Apr 1882
NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 15 April 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
25 May 1882
Local & General. (Star, 25 May 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 01 June 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 June 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 Jul 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 July 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 31 August 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1882
Local & General. (Star, 22 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 09 October 1882) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 11 November 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1882
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 23 December 1882) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 February 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Mar 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Mar 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 March 1883) 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.

“Victoria Square”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch