How many records does the archive hold?

78,375 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.

“"Oxford Terrace"”, the shelf

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

2,870 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 1880s
1 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 27 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Nov 1885
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Nov 1885
Latest Locals. (Star, 24 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 12 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jan 1886
East elevation. Sketch design for Municipal offices Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries · about 1 place
18 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 27 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Feb 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Feb 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Feb 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1886
The Magdalen Asylum. (Star, 19 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 22 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1886
THE CARDINAL ARCHBISHOP OP SYDNEY IN CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 26 February 1886) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 May 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 May 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1886
LICENSING COURT. (Star, 01 June 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 17 June 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1886
Gloucester Street bridge site Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries · about 1 place
24 Jul 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 24 July 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Sept 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 September 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 October 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 October 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Nov 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Dec 1886
Local & General. (Star, 13 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 23 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1887
Latest Locals. (Star, 21 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Jan 1887
Latest Locals. (Star, 24 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 24 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
31 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 31 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Feb 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 12 March 1887) 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.

“"Oxford Terrace"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch