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.

“Grand Riccarton Hotel”, the shelf

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

280 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
13 May 1857
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 13 May 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1860s
5 Apr 1862
TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS. (Lyttelton Times, 05 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
6 Nov 1868
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 November 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
2 Jul 1870
Local and General. (Star, 02 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1873
A VISIT TO THE WEST COAST. (West Coast Times, 27 March 1873) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1873
Local and General. (Star, 28 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1873
Local and General. (Star, 14 August 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jan 1874
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Timaru Herald, 26 January 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Mar 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 30 March 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 23 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 June 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1878
West Coast Times. (West Coast Times, 29 June 1878) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Dec 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 13 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1879
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Otago Witness, 11 January 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1880s
29 Jul 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1881
Local & General. (Star, 09 November 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 26 November 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1881
Local & General (Star, 23 December 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 22 December 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1884
SPORTING. (Otago Daily Times, 02 February 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1884
Local & General. (Star, 16 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1884
SPORTING. (Otago Daily Times, 18 October 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 24 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1885
Local & General (Star, 06 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1885
Local & General (Star, 23 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Feb 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1886
NOTES BY BEACON. (Otago Witness, 19 November 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1886
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 27 November 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 03 December 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1887
1.0.0.P., M.U. (Star, 09 September 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1887
THE OTAGO TOUR OF 1887. (Otago Witness, 23 September 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Sept 1887
FOOTBALL. (Otago Daily Times, 24 September 1887) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Sept 1887
Local & General. (Star, 30 September 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1888
Local & General. (Star, 23 May 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jan 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 18 January 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
31 Jul 1890
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 31 July 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1891
Local & General. (Star, 28 September 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1892
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 05 May 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1892
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 October 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1893
Local & General. (Star, 23 May 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Nov 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 November 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 November 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 15 February 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1897
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 April 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jul 1897
CANTERBURY DOINGS. (Otago Witness, 15 July 1897) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Aug 1897
CANTERBURY DOINGS. (Otago Witness, 26 August 1897) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1898
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 27 January 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Aug 1898
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 31 August 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1899
IN A NUTSHELL. (Otago Witness, 06 July 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Aug 1899
UPPER HOUSE REFORIM. (Poverty Bay Herald, 04 August 1899) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 28 September 1899) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1900s
24 Feb 1900
By Crackshot.] RACING FIXTURES. THE TURF. (Evening Post, 24 February 1900) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
14 Nov 1900
CANTERBURY DOINGS. (Otago Witness, 14 November 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1901
CANTERBURY DOINGS. (Otago Witness, 17 July 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 April 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jul 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 July 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 August 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 September 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Oct 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Oct 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
5 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 05 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 07 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 05 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jan 1903
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Feb 1903
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 February 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Feb 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 February 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Feb 1903
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 February 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Feb 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 February 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
27 Feb 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 February 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
25 Mar 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 April 1903) 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.

“Grand Riccarton Hotel”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch