How many records does the archive hold?

63,896 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.

539 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 1850s
12 Jun 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 12 June 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 19 June 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1858
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 02 October 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1859
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 31 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
the 1860s
27 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 27 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Oct 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 31 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Nov 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 07 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 15 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 15 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 14 September 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 19 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Apr 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 02 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 18 February 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1868
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 02 November 1868) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1869
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 March 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
17 Feb 1870
Local and General. (Star, 17 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 May 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Sept 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 19 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1873
Local and General. (Star, 23 October 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1874
MAGISTERIAL. (Star, 12 February 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1874
ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING. (Star, 28 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 May 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 May 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jul 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 07 July 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 September 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 December 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 January 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 March 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 May 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 June 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 01 July 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 October 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 October 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 November 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 May 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 June 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 12 June 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 June 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1877
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 February 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1877
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 April 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1877
The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED "The Evening News," "The Morning News," and "The Echo." FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1877. (Auckland Star, 06 July 1877) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Nov 1877
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 November 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 January 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 June 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1878
LOCAL AMD GENERAL. (Star, 17 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1878
BOXING DAY. (Star, 27 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
3 Jan 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 29 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jun 1879
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 04 June 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jun 1879
The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, JUNE 6. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 06 June 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jul 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 20 October 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
23 Jan 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 23 January 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jun 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 28 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 30 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 31 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 13 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1880
The Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1880. (Star, 09 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Mar 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 March 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 April 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 October 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 July 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1882
Local & General. (Star, 20 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Sept 1882
Local & General. (Star, 22 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 11 November 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 13 January 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 05 February 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Mar 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 16 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 13 August 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1883
Local & General. (Star, 20 August 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 22 October 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Nov 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 26 November 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 February 1884) 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.

“Bar on Colombo”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch