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.

“Garden Hotel”, the shelf

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

1,640 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
15 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 15 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 16 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 25 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 27 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 28 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 30 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 01 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 05 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 May 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
13 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 May 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1885
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 11 June 1885) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
21 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1885
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Timaru Herald, 05 September 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
5 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 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
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
13 Oct 1885
The Otago Daily Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1885. (Otago Daily Times, 13 October 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 24 October 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
26 Nov 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 26 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
1 Dec 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 01 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 02 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
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
14 Dec 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 December 1885) 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
19 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 19 January 1886) Timaru Herald · 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
10 Feb 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Feb 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Feb 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
23 Feb 1886
THE Marlborough Express. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. (Marlborough Express, 23 February 1886) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
13 May 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 May 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1886
The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1886. (Timaru Herald, 09 August 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Oct 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 October 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 October 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 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
8 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 January 1887) 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
17 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 24 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Apr 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 04 April 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Apr 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 April 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1887
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 22 April 1887) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 16 May 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 May 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 May 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jun 1887
THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE. (Otago Daily Times, 22 June 1887) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jul 1887
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 15 July 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Sept 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 September 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 October 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Oct 1887
NOTES BY BEACON. (Otago Witness, 21 October 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 23 November 1887) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Grey River Argus, 24 November 1887) Grey River Argus · 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
24 Dec 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 24 December 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 27 December 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
27 Jan 1888
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 27 January 1888) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 February 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 June 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1888
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Timaru Herald, 12 July 1888) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Sept 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 15 September 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 02 November 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1888
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 08 November 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1888
Local & General. (Star, 20 November 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1888
Untitled (Auckland Star, 28 December 1888) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Feb 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 11 February 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 10 September 1889) Auckland 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.

“Garden Hotel”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch