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.

7,561 records matching 96 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
8 May 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 May 1880) Star · 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
20 May 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 20 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 29 May 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Grey River Argus, 31 May 1880) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 31 May 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 01 June 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 02 June 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 03 June 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 09 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 15 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 19 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jun 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1880
Colombo St, Christchurch by Wheeler and Son · Auckland Art Gallery Collection · Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki · Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
9 Jul 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 10 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 14 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 24 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 03 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Aug 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 28 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 30 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 31 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 September 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
6 Sept 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 06 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 06 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
10 Sept 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 10 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
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 13 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
14 Sept 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 5 places
17 Sept 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 02 October 1880) Star · 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
12 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 14 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 05 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Nov 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 15 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1880
WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING. (Star, 26 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 30 November 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
The Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1880. (Star, 09 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 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
18 Dec 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 18 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 18 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1880
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES'FERE. (Star, 28 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1881
Cathedral Square and Colombo Street corner Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries · about 1 place
1 Jan 1881
Bank of New Zealand and Colombo Street Panorama of Christchurch, New Zealand, from Cathedral tower · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
1 Jan 1881
Colombo Street looking north Panorama of Christchurch, New Zealand, from Cathedral tower · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
19 Jan 1881
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 19 January 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 08 February 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 March 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 March 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 March 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 28 March 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 29 March 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Apr 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 April 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 April 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 April 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 April 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1881
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 07 May 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1881
Local & General. (Star, 12 May 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 13 May 1881) 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