How many records does the archive hold?

72,593 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.

“The Colombo”, the shelf

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

7,451 records matching 100 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
2 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 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
8 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 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
9 Oct 1878
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 09 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 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 2 (Star, 15 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 2 (Star, 16 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
18 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
19 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (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
21 Oct 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 21 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 22 October 1878) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
31 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 31 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Nov 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 01 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Nov 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 01 November 1878) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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 2 (Star, 05 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
9 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Nov 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 12 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Nov 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Nov 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Dec 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Dec 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1878
BOXING DAY. (Star, 27 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
27 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 14 January 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 January 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 28 January 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 29 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 31 January 1879) 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
6 Feb 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 06 February 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 February 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 11 February 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 February 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 February 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
21 Feb 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 21 February 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Feb 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 22 February 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Mar 1879
MAGISTERIAL. CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1879
FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1879. THE DRAINAGE QUESTION. (Evening Post, 07 March 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1879
EAST CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 13 March 1879) Star · 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
20 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1879
EDUCATION RETURNS. (Star, 24 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
24 Mar 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 24 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 March 1879) 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.

“The Colombo”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch