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.

“Top In Town”, the shelf

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

863 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
18 Jan 1851
No. I.—THE BRIDLE-PATH TO THE PERRY (Lyttelton Times, 18 January 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Feb 1851
WALKS ON THE ROADS. (Wellington Independent, 19 February 1851) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
15 Mar 1851
RURAL SECTIONS CHOSEN. (Lyttelton Times, 15 March 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jul 1851
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 July 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1852
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 January 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1852
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 January 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1852
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 31 January 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Jun 1855
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 09 June 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
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
26 Aug 1857
Local Intelligence. (Lyttelton Times, 26 August 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1858
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 20 February 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Mar 1858
toCleanings of News. FROM ENGLISH PAPERS TO 16TH DECEMBER. (Colonist, 30 March 1858) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Aug 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 25 August 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 25 August 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 01 September 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 15 September 1858) 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
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
27 Nov 1858
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 27 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Dec 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 24 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 16 March 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
8 Jun 1859
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 08 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1859
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 22 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1859
LYTTELTON. (Colonist, 04 November 1859) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
8 Sept 1860
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 September 1860) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Nov 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 07 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
28 Nov 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 28 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 December 1860) 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
8 May 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 08 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
2 Oct 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 02 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 5 places
9 Nov 1861
Tuesday, November 5. (Lyttelton Times, 09 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1862
Page 10 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
16 Apr 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 16 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 19 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
3 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 03 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 07 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 10 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jan 1864
News of the week. (Otago Witness, 30 January 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Feb 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 27 February 1864) Otago Witness · 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
12 Nov 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 12 November 1864) Otago Witness · 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
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
19 Oct 1866
LONDON. (Otago Daily Times, 19 October 1866) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
20 Oct 1866
LONDON. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) August 25th, 1866. (Otago Witness, 20 October 1866) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
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
21 Sept 1867
GREAT MEETING IN CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 21 September 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1867
Average, 29.8. (Otago Witness, 29 November 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1868
BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH (Timaru Herald, 29 April 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1868
LOCAL NEWS OF THE MONTH. (Timaru Herald, 02 May 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 May 1868
West Coast Times. MONDAY, MAY 4, 1868. (West Coast Times, 04 May 1868) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1868
TAPANUI. (Bruce Herald, 29 July 1868) Bruce Herald · 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
3 Sept 1869
THIS MONTH. (West Coast Times, 03 September 1869) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
12 Jan 1870
GERALDINE ROAD BOARD. (Timaru Herald, 12 January 1870) Timaru Herald · 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
15 Mar 1870
Untitled (Otago Daily Times, 15 March 1870) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1870
NEW ZEALAND INTELLIGENCE. (Colonist, 29 March 1870) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
25 Jul 1870
Local and General. (Star, 25 July 1870) Star · 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
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
16 May 1871
NOTES OF NEW ZEALAND TRAVEL. (West Coast Times, 16 May 1871) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 May 1871
NEW ZEALAND. (Colonist, 16 May 1871) Colonist · 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
16 Feb 1872
NEW ZEALAND.-GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 16 February 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
16 Mar 1872
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 16 March 1872) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1872
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 30 March 1872) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 May 1872
EVENTS OF THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 04 May 1872) West Coast Times · 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
11 Jan 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 January 1873) Otago Witness · 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
18 Apr 1873
Local and General. (Star, 18 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Apr 1873
Local and General. (Star, 25 April 1873) Star · 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
13 Aug 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 13 August 1873) Marlborough Express · 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
25 Oct 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 25 October 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1873
ANNIVERSARY DAY. (Star, 17 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Dec 1873
Local and General. (Star, 24 December 1873) 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
9 Oct 1874
OPENING OF THE TIMARU PUBLIC SCHOOL. (Star, 09 October 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Nov 1874
THE Otago Daily Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1874. (Otago Daily Times, 03 November 1874) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 07 November 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1874
Untitled (Auckland Star, 01 December 1874) Auckland 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

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.

“Top In Town”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch