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.

“"Gloucester"”, the shelf

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

3,251 records matching 88 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
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
17 May 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1864
Glass Plate Negative: Panorama, Number Four by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
23 Jul 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 23 July 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 30 July 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Aug 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 06 August 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 13 August 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 20 August 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 27 August 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 03 September 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 10 September 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 17 September 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1865
Gloucester Street footbridge, Christchurch, 1865 by Barker, Alfred Charles, 1819-1873 · Photographs / He Whakaahua · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
1 Jan 1867
Letter to Mary, 1867 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71228 · Christchurch City Libraries
1 Jan 1867
Letter to Mary, 1867 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71227 · Christchurch City Libraries
15 Feb 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Marlborough Express, 15 February 1868) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Feb 1868
Letter to Mary, 29th February 1868 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71225 · Christchurch City Libraries
29 Feb 1868
Letter to Mary, 29th February 1868 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71226 · Christchurch City Libraries
25 Apr 1868
The Evening Post. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1868. (Evening Post, 25 April 1868) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 July 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 July 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 July 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1868
Local and General. (Star, 11 August 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 September 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 September 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 September 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 September 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Sept 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 September 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 September 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 September 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 September 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1868
ROAD THROUGH HAGLEY PARK. (Star, 21 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 02 November 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 November 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1868
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 November 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 09 November 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1868
Letter to Mary, 20th November 1868 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71175 · Christchurch City Libraries
20 Nov 1868
Letter to Mary, 20th November 1868 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71174 · Christchurch City Libraries
1 Dec 1868
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 01 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 February 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 16 February 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Feb 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 February 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 February 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 February 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1869
Letter to Mary, 23rd February 1869 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71209 · Christchurch City Libraries
23 Feb 1869
Letter to Mary, 23rd February 1869 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71210 · Christchurch City Libraries
2 Mar 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL (Star, 02 March 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 09 March 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 06 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 13 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 20 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 May 1869
Magisterial. (Star, 04 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 11 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 06 July 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 July 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jul 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 20 July 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 July 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 03 August 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Aug 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 10 August 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 17 August 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 September 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 21 September 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 October 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 October 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 October 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 23 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
14 Dec 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 14 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 21 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 29 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
1 Jan 1870
Gloucester Street footbridge, Christchurch Photographs / He Whakaahua · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
1 Jan 1870
Photograph: Public Buildings, Christchurch by Burton Bros · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
2 Feb 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1870
Local and General. (Star, 01 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1870
Local and General. (Star, 26 April 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1870
MEMORANDA OF TRIE MONIR. (Wellington Independent, 02 June 1870) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Sept 1870
Local and General. (Star, 03 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 December 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1871
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 31 January 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Feb 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 February 1871) 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.

“"Gloucester"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch