How many records does the archive hold?

63,896 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.

“Sumner Market”, the shelf

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

538 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
17 Jan 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 January 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 May 1888
Local & General. (Star, 03 May 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Dec 1888
Local & General. (Star, 06 December 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Feb 1889
Canterbury Tramway Company. (Star, 21 February 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 22 October 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Nov 1889
The Dunedin Exhibition. (Auckland Star, 23 November 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1889
IN AND ABOUT CHRISTCHURCH. THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS. (Te Aroha News, 27 November 1889) Te Aroha News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1890s
22 Mar 1890
Local & General. (Star, 22 March 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Aug 1890
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 26 August 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1890
THE NEW ZEALANDER AT HOME. (Otago Witness, 04 September 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1890
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 November 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1891
Local & General. (Star, 17 June 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 01 August 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1891
Local & General. (Star, 03 September 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Jan 1892
Latest Locals. (Star, 09 January 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1892
Local & General. (Star, 25 February 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
27 Jul 1892
Latest Locals. (Star, 27 July 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1892
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 03 November 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1893
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1893
Local & General. (Star, 02 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1894
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1894
Local & General. (Star, 21 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 24 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1894
Local & General. (Star, 09 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1894
Local & General. (Star, 23 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1895
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 October 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Mar 1896
CABLED TOPICS. (Evening Post, 17 March 1896) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1896
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 July 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1896
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 July 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
29 Dec 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 December 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 01 February 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Feb 1897
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 February 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1897
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 February 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1897
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 March 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Aug 1897
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 August 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Aug 1897
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 August 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Aug 1897
Page 7 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 August 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1897
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 October 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 January 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 January 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1899
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 April 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 May 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 August 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1899
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Evening Post, 30 December 1899) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1900s
23 Jan 1900
THE COLONIST. Published Daily��Mornings Nelson, Tuesday, January 23,1900. (Colonist, 23 January 1900) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1900
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 April 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1900
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 April 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1900
Local and General (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 02 October 1900) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1900
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 December 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 April 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 May 1901
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 06 May 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 September 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 October 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 December 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jan 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Feb 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 June 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Sept 1902
GREATER CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 September 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Nov 1902
THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY AND LICENSING LEGISLATION. (Star, 18 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 19 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
24 Dec 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 24 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Mar 1903
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jun 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 June 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
8 Aug 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 August 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Feb 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 February 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 February 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jul 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jul 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 21 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jul 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 04 August 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 August 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 August 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Aug 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 August 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 25 August 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Sept 1904
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 September 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 September 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 October 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 October 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1904
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 December 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1904
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 December 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jan 1905
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 30 January 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 February 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 April 1905) 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.

“Sumner Market”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch