How many records does the archive hold?

61,639 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.

“Victoria Bridge”, the shelf

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

1,071 records matching 97 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
9 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (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
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 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 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 November 1878) Star · 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
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
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
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
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
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
10 Dec 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
4 Jan 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 04 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1879
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Otago Witness, 11 January 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Jan 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 January 1879) Star · 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
11 Feb 1879
LITTLE RIVER ROAD BOARD. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 11 February 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1879
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 01 March 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
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
8 Apr 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
17 Apr 1879
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 17 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 06 May 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 09 May 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 13 May 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jun 1879
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 04 June 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jul 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1879
News of the week. (Otago Witness, 02 August 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1879
Grand Opening Ceremonial. (Auckland Star, 17 September 1879) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
13 Nov 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 November 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 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
5 Dec 1879
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 05 December 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
1 Jan 1880
Victoria Bridge, Christchurch Hocken Digital Collections · no. 55552 · Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago; University of Otago
1 Jan 1880
Victoria Street Bridge and Supreme Court, Christchurch by Burton Brothers · Photography · Te Papa Collections Online · Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa · about 1 place
1 Jan 1880
Victoria Bridge, Christchurch Photographs / He Whakaahua · Kura Heritage Collections Online · no. 329855 · Auckland Libraries
18 Mar 1880
INTERIM REPORT BY THE NATIVE COMMISSION. (Evening Post, 18 March 1880) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1880
The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 03 April 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1880
THE SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. (Otago Daily Times, 24 April 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1880
OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOATRACE. (Otago Witness, 15 May 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jun 1880
The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 11 June 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1880
SOCIAL AND GENERAL (Otago Daily Times, 18 June 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1880
Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 17 July 1880) Otago Daily Times · 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
1 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 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
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
23 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 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
3 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
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
27 Dec 1880
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS. (West Coast Times, 27 December 1880) West Coast Times · 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.

“Victoria Bridge”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch