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.

“The Halswell”, the shelf

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

1,300 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
31 Jan 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 31 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1884
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 07 March 1884) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1884
AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 14 March 1884) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · 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
24 Apr 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 24 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 29 April 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
14 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 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
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 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 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
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
4 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 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
23 Jun 1884
THE COMING CONTEST. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 23 June 1884) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1884
Polling Places for Canterbury. (Star, 18 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jul 1884
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1884
THE DEFENCES OF THE COLONY. (Otago Daily Times, 06 October 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 29 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1885
Selwyn County Council. (Star, 24 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 27 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 04 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 10 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 12 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 16 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 12 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1885
THE PAY IN THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. (Evening Post, 21 July 1885) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1885
Board of Education. (Star, 21 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 27 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
24 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
25 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Oct 1885
Board of Education. (Star, 02 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 07 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 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
7 Jan 1886
Fire in the River-bed, Prebbleton. (Star, 07 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 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
15 Jan 1886
Pupil Teachers' Examination. (Star, 15 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1886
Ecclesiastical. (Star, 26 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Feb 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1886
Local & General. (Star, 09 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Mar 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 March 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.

“The Halswell”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch