How many records does the archive hold?

70,536 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.

“5 Acres”, the shelf

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

4,264 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 1860s
6 Nov 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 November 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 November 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (North Otago Times, 27 November 1868) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1868
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1869
CHRISTCHURCH RACES. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 16 January 1869) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1869
NELSON REGATTA. (Colonist, 12 February 1869) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
20 Feb 1869
NEWS OF THE WEEK. (Otago Witness, 20 February 1869) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Mar 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 March 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 March 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 March 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1869
CHRISTCHURCH. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 13 July 1869) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1869
Magisterial. (Star, 27 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
26 Oct 1869
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 October 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1869
Local and General. (Star, 30 November 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1869
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 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
the 1870s
18 Jan 1870
THE DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, JAN. 18. (Otago Daily Times, 18 January 1870) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1870
NEW ZEALAND INTELLIGENCE (Colonist, 15 February 1870) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1870
Local and General. (Star, 17 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Mar 1870
NEW ZEALAND INTELLIGENCE. (Colonist, 29 March 1870) Colonist · 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
29 Sept 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Sept 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Nov 1870
CANTERBURY PROVINCE. FEARFUL FIRE AT LYTTELTON. (Colonist, 04 November 1870) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Mar 1871
CHICORY FARM IN CANTERBURY. (Bruce Herald, 01 March 1871) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Apr 1871
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1871
Untitled (Otago Daily Times, 10 April 1871) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
2 May 1871
Local and General. (Star, 02 May 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1871
NEW ZEALAND. (Colonist, 16 May 1871) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1871
The Daily Southern Cross. (Daily Southern Cross, 04 July 1871) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Sept 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
23 Sept 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
5 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
12 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 November 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1871
NEW ZEALAND GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 24 November 1871) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Dec 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 04 December 1871) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 December 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1871
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (West Coast Times, 22 December 1871) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1872
NEW ZEALAND.-GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 16 February 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1872
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 March 1872) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1872
NEWS OF THE DAY (Colonist, 08 March 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1872
EVENTS OF THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 09 March 1872) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1872
Local and General. (Star, 11 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1872
NEWS OF THE DAY (Colonist, 12 March 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1872
Untitled (Nelson Evening Mail, 12 March 1872) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1872
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Southland Times, 09 April 1872) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1872
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 20 April 1872) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1872
CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION. (Star, 01 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 20 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1872
COLONIAL TOPICS. (Colonist, 28 August 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1872
VANDALISM AT THE TERRACES IN THE LAKE DISTRICT. (Colonist, 27 September 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1872
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 07 October 1872) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 January 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 22 March 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 29 March 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1873
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 23 April 1873) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Apr 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Colonist, 29 April 1873) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 May 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 24 May 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 May 1873
Local and General. (Star, 28 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1873
Wellington Independent TUESDAY, 10th JUNE. (Wellington Independent, 10 June 1873) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Aug 1873
Local and General. (Star, 14 August 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Sept 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 06 September 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Sept 1873
WEST CHRISTCHURCH EDUCATIONAL DISTRICT. (Star, 19 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 07 October 1873) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1873
Untitled (Bruce Herald, 17 October 1873) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Oct 1873
Telegrams. (Otago Witness, 25 October 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 22 November 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Dec 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 20 December 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jan 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 January 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1874
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 14 January 1874) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Colonist, 31 March 1874) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1874
MR WYNN WILLIAMS AT PAPANUI (Star, 01 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 May 1874
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 02 May 1874) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 23 May 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 15 June 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1874
West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1874. (West Coast Times, 11 July 1874) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
14 Jul 1874
THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1874. (Grey River Argus, 14 July 1874) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 15 August 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Timaru Herald, 25 September 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Sept 1874
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 25 September 1874) Grey River Argus · 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.

“5 Acres”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch