How many records does the archive hold?

81,477 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.

“Christchurch Town Hall”, the shelf

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

5,519 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 1860s
30 Sept 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 September 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1868
Local and General. (Star, 01 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1868
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1868
SOCIAL. (Otago Daily Times, 05 October 1868) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1868
NEWS OF THE WEEK. (Otago Witness, 10 October 1868) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1868
Local and General. (Star, 24 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 27 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1868
THE Grey River Argus THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1868. (Grey River Argus, 29 October 1868) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Oct 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Oct 1868
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 31 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Nov 1868
DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, NOV. 14. (Otago Witness, 14 November 1868) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 November 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1868
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 01 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1868
Local and General. (Star, 09 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1868
MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c (Star, 15 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1868
Local and General. (Star, 19 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 05 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jan 1869
Local and General. (Star, 05 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1869
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Wellington Independent, 14 January 1869) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1869
NELSON REGATTA. (Colonist, 12 February 1869) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
15 Feb 1869
Probincial News. (Southland Times, 15 February 1869) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1869
THE Grey River Argus SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1569. (Grey River Argus, 20 February 1869) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Mar 1869
LATEST FROM THE PROVINCES. (Wellington Independent, 13 March 1869) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1869
NEWS OF THE WEEK. (Otago Witness, 10 April 1869) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1869
Local and General. (Star, 14 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Apr 1869
EAST COAST. (Daily Southern Cross, 19 April 1869) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1869
LATEST TELEGRAMS. (Timaru Herald, 28 April 1869) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 11 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1869
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 12 May 1869) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1869
Local and General. (Star, 12 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1869
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1869
Local and General. (Star, 24 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1869
ELECTION FOR CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 03 June 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1869
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 June 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jul 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 July 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1869
Local and General. (Star, 23 July 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 July 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 August 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Aug 1869
Horbincial News. (Southland Times, 06 August 1869) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1869
THIS MONTH. (West Coast Times, 03 September 1869) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1869
THE THAMES GOLDFIELDS. (Colonist, 10 September 1869) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 September 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1869
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 September 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 12 October 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1869
The Daily Southern Cross. (Daily Southern Cross, 25 October 1869) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1869
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 October 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 November 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1869
Local and General. (Star, 30 November 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1869
Local and General. (Star, 24 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 29 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
1870
Photograph: Christchurch Town Halls, High Street by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
13 Jan 1870
Local and General. (Star, 13 January 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1870
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Grey River Argus, 15 January 1870) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1870
THE DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, JAN. 18. (Otago Daily Times, 18 January 1870) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1870
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Grey River Argus, 18 January 1870) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1870
Local and General. (Star, 21 January 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1870
NEW ZEALAND INTELLIGENCE (Colonist, 15 February 1870) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1870
Local and General. (Star, 17 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Feb 1870
Untitled (West Coast Times, 24 February 1870) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Mar 1870
Untitled (Otago Daily Times, 15 March 1870) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1870
Local and General. (Star, 26 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 09 April 1870) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 April 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 April 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Apr 1870
Local and General. (Star, 26 April 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1870
Local and General. (Star, 09 May 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 May 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1870
Local and General. (Star, 27 June 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1870
Local and General. (Star, 12 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1870
Local and General. (Star, 25 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jul 1870
Latest and General. (Star, 30 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1870
Local and General. (Star, 03 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1870
Local and General. (Star, 26 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1870
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 October 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Nov 1870
CANTERBURY PROVINCE. FEARFUL FIRE AT LYTTELTON. (Colonist, 04 November 1870) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Nov 1870
Local and General. (Star, 07 November 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1870
Local and General. (Star, 15 December 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place

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.

“Christchurch Town Hall”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch