How many records does the archive hold?

66,408 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.

“Bar on Colombo”, the shelf

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

541 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 1900s
31 Oct 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 31 October 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1907
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1907
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1907
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1907
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1907
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 December 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1907
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 December 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 04 January 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jan 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 04 January 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jan 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 January 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jan 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 January 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 January 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Feb 1908
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
1 Feb 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1908
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Feb 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Feb 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1908
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 20 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
22 Feb 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 March 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Apr 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 April 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 16 May 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 May 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 June 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 06 June 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1908
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 June 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jul 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 July 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 July 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 July 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Aug 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 August 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
22 Aug 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 August 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 August 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Sept 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 05 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 12 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Sept 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Sept 1908
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Sept 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
30 Sept 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Oct 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 October 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 October 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Oct 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 October 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 October 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Oct 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 31 October 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Oct 1908
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 31 October 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1908
THE GENERAL ELECTIONS. YESTERDAY'S POLLING. (Star, 18 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 7 places
28 Nov 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 05 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1908
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Jan 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jan 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 06 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 13 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 27 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 April 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 April 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1909
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 April 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Apr 1909
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 April 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1909
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 April 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 May 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 15 May 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 May 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 May 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 22 May 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1909
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 June 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 June 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jul 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 31 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 11 September 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1909
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 18 September 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Sept 1909
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 September 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 October 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Nov 1909
Page 10 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 November 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Dec 1909
Page 10 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 December 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1909
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 December 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1909
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 December 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1909
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 December 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1909
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 December 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1909
Page 9 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 December 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1909
Page 11 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 December 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1910s
3 Nov 1915
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 03 November 1915) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1920s
2 Sept 1922
Page 10 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 02 September 1922) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1922
Page 10 Advertisements Column 5 (NZ Truth, 09 September 1922) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1922
Page 10 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 16 September 1922) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1925
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Evening Post, 22 September 1925) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Nov 1927
Jurty Hears Murder Charge Agains Taxi-driver Boakes A DRAMATIC MOMENT IN COURT WHEN BICKERDIKE ENTERS BOX (NZ Truth, 24 November 1927) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1930s
2 Sept 1932
Page 11 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 02 September 1932) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1933
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Ellesmere Guardian, 19 December 1933) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1933
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Ellesmere Guardian, 22 December 1933) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1936
ART UNION DRAW (Evening Post, 11 February 1936) Evening Post · 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.

“Bar on Colombo”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch