How many records does the archive hold?

66,408 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.

“"Madras Street"”, the shelf

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

1,349 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
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
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
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
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
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
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 December 1878) 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
17 Apr 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 April 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
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
16 Sept 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Oct 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 October 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 October 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Oct 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 October 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 November 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 November 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1879
THE DRAINAGE OF CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 December 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
1 Jan 1880
Sewer sections by Christchurch Drainage Board · No. 1 Pumphouse · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
1 Jan 1880
Pipe line plan by Christchurch Drainage Board · No. 1 Pumphouse · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
30 Apr 1880
Page 19 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 30 April 1880) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jul 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 July 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
30 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 30 August 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
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
29 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
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
21 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 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
1 Apr 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (West Coast Times, 01 April 1881) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1881
Local & General. (Star, 18 May 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 Jul 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 July 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 November 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 December 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1882
Local & General. (Star, 13 February 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (West Coast Times, 23 March 1882) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Mar 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (West Coast Times, 27 March 1882) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Mar 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (West Coast Times, 30 March 1882) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Apr 1882
Local & General. (Star, 12 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Apr 1882
CHRISTCHURCH (Star, 20 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 May 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 May 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 31 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
8 Jul 1882
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 July 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 August 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 October 1882) Star · 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
18 Nov 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 November 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Dec 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 20 December 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jan 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 20 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 27 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 03 April 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 14 April 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 24 May 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jun 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 05 June 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 July 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 July 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1883
TELEGRAMS. (Southland Times, 07 September 1883) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1883
HEAVY STORM IN CHRISTCHURCH. (West Coast Times, 07 September 1883) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 October 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jan 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 12 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Feb 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1884
Sydenham Borough Council. (Star, 26 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
9 Jun 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 19 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 31 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 25 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 06 October 1884) 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.

“"Madras Street"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch