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.

“"Durham Street"”, the shelf

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

1,799 records matching 97 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
1 Jan 1885
Interior of gallery, Durham Street, Christchurch. WCC, Library Photograph Collection copy negatives · Wellington City Council Archives · Wellington City Council Archives
1 Jan 1885
Durham Street Wesleyan Church by M. Mosley · Matapihi · New Zealand Electronic Text Collection · Victoria University of Wellington
1 Jan 1885
Provincial Council Buildings by Christchurch Star · 1860 - 1900 Christchurch Star photographs · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
21 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Feb 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 02 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Feb 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 14 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 18 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Apr 1885
Latest Locals. (Star, 11 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 09 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 01 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1885
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 10 July 1885) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1885
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 28 July 1885) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1885
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 31 August 1885) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1885
Local & General. (Star, 11 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Sept 1885
The Volunteers. (Star, 25 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1885
Latest Locals. (Star, 26 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1885
Local & General. (Star, 28 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 07 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 08 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 24 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1885
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (North Otago Times, 29 October 1885) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Oct 1885
SALES BY AUCTION. (North Otago Times, 31 October 1885) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1885
SALES BY AUCTION. (North Otago Times, 02 November 1885) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1885
SALES BY AUCTION. (North Otago Times, 04 November 1885) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1885
SALES BY AUCTION. (North Otago Times, 05 November 1885) North Otago Times · 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
25 Nov 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 25 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Dec 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 14 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Dec 1885
MARRIAGES. (Star, 30 December 1885) 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
8 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 12 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Jan 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Feb 1886
CHRISTCHURCH SOUTH-WEST. (Star, 24 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
10 Mar 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 10 March 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 12 March 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 13 March 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 08 April 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 17 May 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 10 July 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Aug 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 06 August 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Aug 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 30 August 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Timaru Herald, 16 September 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Timaru Herald, 17 September 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1886
Latest Locals. (Star, 04 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 17 November 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Dec 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1887
Latest Locals. (Star, 19 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 March 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
26 Mar 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 26 March 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1887
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 12 April 1887) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1887
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 13 April 1887) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 18 April 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 23 May 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jul 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 06 July 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jul 1887
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Auckland Star, 21 July 1887) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1887
Latest Locals. (Star, 24 August 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1887
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 August 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Aug 1887
Local & General. (Star, 29 August 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1887
ELECTION NEWS. (Star, 30 August 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 October 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 04 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 24 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 14 December 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 January 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 January 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 7 places
23 Jan 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 January 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 February 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 February 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1888
Local & General (Star, 12 March 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1888
Local & General. (Star, 14 March 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Sept 1888
OTHER BUILDINGS AFFECTED. Additional Particulars. Christchurch, September 1. THE DAMAGE TO THE CATHEDRAL. OTHER BUILDINGS AFFECTED. (Te Aroha News, 05 September 1888) Te Aroha News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1889
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Auckland Star, 07 January 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1889
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 January 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 11 February 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1889
WESLEYAN CONFERENCE. (Otago Daily Times, 20 February 1889) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 April 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1889
OTHER MATCHES. (Star, 03 June 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1889
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 July 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1889
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 August 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
2 Jan 1890
Latest Locals. (Star, 02 January 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1890
LOCAL NEWS. (Star, 20 January 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place

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.

“"Durham Street"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch