How many records does the archive hold?

66,408 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.

“Shop at the Top”, the shelf

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

485 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
29 Oct 1853
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 29 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 September 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1860s
8 Jun 1861
Untitled (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 June 1861) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Apr 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 26 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 30 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 July 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
7 Nov 1864
THE Otago Daily Times. (Otago Daily Times, 07 November 1864) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Nov 1865
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 6 (Wellington Independent, 03 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Wellington Independent, 19 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 21 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1866
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 16 June 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1866
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 18 June 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1867
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Wellington Independent, 21 March 1867) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1867
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 29 June 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1867
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 02 August 1867) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 December 1868) 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
the 1870s
15 Feb 1870
NEW ZEALAND INTELLIGENCE (Colonist, 15 February 1870) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1870
MEMORANDA OF TRIE MONIR. (Wellington Independent, 02 June 1870) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Jan 1871
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 31 January 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Feb 1871
Local and General. (Star, 09 February 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
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
18 Apr 1873
Local and General. (Star, 18 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Aug 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 13 August 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1874
YESTERDAY. Loal and General. (Star, 14 January 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 29 August 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
7 Nov 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 07 November 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1875
LYTTELTON. (Star, 03 February 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jun 1876
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 05 June 1876) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 03 August 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1877
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 01 May 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1877
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 October 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1877
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 October 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 15 January 1878) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jun 1878
MR STOUT IN REPLY TO MR D. REID. (Otago Witness, 01 June 1878) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 18 July 1878) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jul 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 20 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 22 July 1878) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Sept 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 23 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 25 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 04 August 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 05 September 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Sept 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1879
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 05 December 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 December 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
11 Feb 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 February 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1880
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 27 February 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
18 Jun 1880
SOCIAL AND GENERAL (Otago Daily Times, 18 June 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jun 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 31 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1881
Dunedin Industrial Exhibition. (Otago Witness, 25 June 1881) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 18 October 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Nov 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 01 November 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1881
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 02 December 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Dec 1881
Local & General (Star, 23 December 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1882
Local & General. (Star, 18 February 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1882
OPENING OP THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION AT CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 20 April 1882) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Apr 1882
Local & General. (Star, 27 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1882
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 13 May 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jun 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 01 June 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Aug 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 02 August 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1882
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 23 December 1882) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1883
TELEGRAMS. (Colonist, 12 February 1883) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 24 March 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1883
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Auckland Star, 04 October 1883) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1883
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 22 November 1883) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1883
The Akaroa Mail FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1883. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 27 November 1883) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1883
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 27 December 1883) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Mar 1884
Untitled (Auckland Star, 15 March 1884) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1884
Untitled (Wanganui Herald, 26 September 1884) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1885
THE NEW BOYS HIGH SCHOOL. (Otago Daily Times, 12 February 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
13 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 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
21 Jul 1885
THE PAY IN THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. (Evening Post, 21 July 1885) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1885
Untitled (Timaru Herald, 11 August 1885) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
17 Oct 1885
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 17 October 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1885
West Coast Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1885. (West Coast Times, 24 December 1885) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1886
ONE OF THE FISHING PARTY. (Star, 26 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 Aug 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 10 August 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 December 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1887
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 07 January 1887) Otago Witness · 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
31 Jan 1887
Telegraphic. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 31 January 1887) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Apr 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 04 April 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1887
West Coast Times FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1887. (West Coast Times, 29 April 1887) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Jun 1887
MAGISTERIAL, (Star, 09 June 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
2 Sept 1887
MEETING OF CREDITORS. (Otago Witness, 02 September 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1888
Local & General. (Star, 03 May 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1888
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Timaru Herald, 05 July 1888) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Nov 1888
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 03 November 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1888
Latest Locals. (Star, 10 December 1888) 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.

“Shop at the Top”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch