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.

“The Works Market”, the shelf

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

1,015 records matching 99 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
26 Jul 1851
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 July 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1852
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 13 March 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Apr 1852
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, 03 April 1852) New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jun 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 04 June 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 June 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1853
Page 10 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 09 July 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 08 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1854
REPORT (Lyttelton Times, 22 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1854
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wellington Independent, 18 October 1854) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1855
REPORT. (Lyttelton Times, 16 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
22 Nov 1856
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 22 November 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Mar 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 March 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1857
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 25 March 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1857
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 28 March 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
20 Feb 1858
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 20 February 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Mar 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 06 March 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 10 March 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 13 March 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 03 April 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 17 April 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1858
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 05 May 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1858
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 08 May 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1858
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 12 May 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 July 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 July 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
31 Jul 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 31 July 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Sept 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 04 September 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1858
ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE (Lyttelton Times, 06 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Nov 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1858
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 22 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1858
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 31 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 05 January 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 08 January 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 19 January 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 January 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 January 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 02 February 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1859
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 12 February 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1859
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 30 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 07 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 May 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 28 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 13 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 August 1859) 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
5 Nov 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 05 November 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Dec 1859
Commercial. (Colonist, 06 December 1859) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1860s
1 Jan 1860
Market Place, Christchurch, 1860 by Barker, Alfred Charles, 1819-1873 · Photographs / He Whakaahua · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
28 Jan 1860
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 28 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 21 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Aug 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 15 August 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 August 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 05 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 15 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Sept 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 29 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 October 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
10 Nov 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 10 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Nov 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 17 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Nov 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 01 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 05 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 08 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
12 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 12 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
29 Dec 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 29 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Jan 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 02 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1861
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 05 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1861
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 19 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 09 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 06 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Apr 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 27 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1861
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 17 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 17 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1861
TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS. (Lyttelton Times, 14 September 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 06 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1861
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 06 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1861
Tuesday, November 5. (Lyttelton Times, 09 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1861
The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1861. (Lyttelton Times, 16 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Dec 1861
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 04 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Dec 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Dec 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Dec 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 14 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place

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.

“The Works Market”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch