How many records does the archive hold?

67,402 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.

“Lyttelton Builders”, the shelf

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

389 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 1860s
9 Apr 1862
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1862
Page 10 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
26 Apr 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 26 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 30 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 03 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 10 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jan 1864
News of the week. (Otago Witness, 30 January 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 May 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 25 May 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 November 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 March 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 March 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 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Nov 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 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
4 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 04 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
27 Sept 1870
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Apr 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 December 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1872
NEW ZEALAND.-GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 16 February 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1872
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 March 1872) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1873
WRECK OF A WOOL SHIP. (Timaru Herald, 10 February 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1873
Local and General. (Star, 05 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 24 May 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Oct 1873
Untitled (Bruce Herald, 17 October 1873) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 May 1874
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 05 May 1874) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Oct 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Star, 24 October 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 16 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jan 1875
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Otago Daily Times, 18 January 1875) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1875
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Star, 12 May 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Mar 1878
SNORTING. (Timaru Herald, 09 March 1878) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 March 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 April 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jun 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 June 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1879
MEETING OF CREDITORS. MR. R. J. DUNCAN. (Evening Post, 05 April 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Apr 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 14 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Aug 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 04 August 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
27 Feb 1880
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 27 February 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
29 Jul 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 July 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
9 Sept 1880
OAMARU. (Timaru Herald, 09 September 1880) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1880
THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. (Otago Daily Times, 02 October 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 06 October 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1880
MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 09 October 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
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
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 December 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
22 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1882
THE EXHIBITION. (Star, 11 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1882
OPENING OP THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION AT CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 20 April 1882) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Apr 1882
Local & General. (Star, 22 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1882
TELEGRAMS. (Southland Times, 22 November 1882) Southland Times · 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
23 Dec 1882
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 23 December 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Jan 1883
Local & General. (Star, 13 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
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
7 Apr 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 07 April 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 13 April 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 01 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 01 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 05 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Dec 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 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
12 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 12 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 18 May 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 12 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

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.

“Lyttelton Builders”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch