How many records does the archive hold?

74,024 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.

7,802 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 1880s
28 Feb 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 06 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Mar 1884
The "Lyttelton Times" Company's New Buildings. (Star, 15 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 Mar 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 21 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 27 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 31 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 31 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Apr 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 01 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Apr 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Apr 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Apr 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Apr 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 April 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
22 Apr 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 22 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Apr 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1884
Sydenham Borough Council. (Star, 22 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 24 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Apr 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 24 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Apr 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 28 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Apr 1884
Selwyn County Council. (Star, 29 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Apr 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 30 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 May 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 06 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 May 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 21 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1884
Cashmere Hills Domain Board. (Star, 23 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 28 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
9 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 09 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 June 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.

“The Colombo”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch