# Sydenham, Christchurch

23,724 council reports since May 2015, the 2nd busiest suburb in the city. 18,688 photographs on record.
6,970 people at the 2023 Census, 2,291 to the square kilometre across 3.0 km².

https://www.chch.live/sydenham

## Live source links

Link-outs to the source’s own live pages, chch.live does not copy their live values or source text.

- [Christchurch City Council What’s On](https://www.ccc.govt.nz/news-and-events/whats-on)
- [Christchurch City Libraries events](https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/events/)

## The encyclopaedia on it

Sydenham is an inner suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, 2 kilometres south of the city centre, on and around the city's main street, Colombo Street. It is a residential, retail and light industrial suburb.

Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydenham%2C_New_Zealand), a tertiary source
Population: Stats NZ 2023 Census Statistical Area 2 counts summed over the suburb’s own areas, as Wikipedia maps them; the area is measured from the suburb boundary.

## Living here

New bonds here ran at about **$518 a week** in the April–June 2026 quarter, the middle half $430–$541, across 99 bonds, up 10% on a year ago. That’s about **$32 a week below** the city’s own quarter median of $550. Tenancy Services counts these under the Sydenham Central, Sydenham North, Sydenham South, Sydenham West and Lancaster Park areas combined, approximately this suburb.
- 1-bedroom house, $517 a week · 48 new bonds
- 2-bedroom house, $529 a week · 15 new bonds
- 1-bedroom flat/unit, $127 a week · 12 new bonds
- 3-bedroom house, $550 a week · 9 new bonds
- 2-bedroom flat/unit, $350 a week · 6 new bonds

Median and quartiles of weekly rents on new private bonds (Tenancy Services), new bonds only, not the whole stock.

## 2023 Census snapshot

About 6,774 people and 3,084 occupied private households, grouped from 45 SA1 areas in Lancaster Park, Sydenham Central, Sydenham North, Sydenham West, Sydenham South. Several statistical areas are combined here, so this is a grouped proxy rather than a count for one suburb boundary.


Ethnicity is a multiple-response measure, so those percentages are not meant to add to 100%. Stats NZ uses fixed random rounding to base 3; unavailable or confidential cells are left out, not treated as zero.

[individuals](https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/layer/120766-2023-census-totals-by-topic-for-individuals-by-statistical-area-1-part-1/) · [households](https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/layer/120765-2023-census-totals-by-topic-for-households-by-statistical-area-1/) · [geography](https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/table/111243/) · [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

## As reported (18,688 on record)
- [15B Byron St](https://www.chch.live/report/9083365)
- [458 Colombo Street, Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/report/9082854)
- [45 Carlyle Street, Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/report/9077321)
- [50–86 Kingsley St](https://www.chch.live/report/9076661)
- [33–45 Strickland St](https://www.chch.live/report/9076056)
- [6 Gilbert Place, Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/report/9075345)

[18,688 photographs on the wall](https://www.chch.live/wall?suburb=sydenham)

## The suburb, back then (39 in the archive)

*Placed by the record’s locality join or the name in its own title, a lead, not a claim each frame stood here.*
- [Standard survey of the Borough of Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/then/1880s#p-54609997), 1883 · Canterbury Stories
- [Colombo Road, Sydenham, Christchurch](https://www.chch.live/then/1880s#p-178145), 1884 · Te Papa Collections Online
- [Storm Water sewers. Colombo and Montreal Streets. Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/then/1880s#p-54609959), 1885 · Canterbury Stories
- [Rhodes’ Convalescent Home, Port Hills, Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/then/1890s#p-52173163), 1896 · Canterbury Stories
- [39 Sandyford Street, Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/then/1900s#p-53792546), 1900 · Canterbury Stories
- [St Saviour's Church, Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/then/1900s#p-59149497), 1900 · Kura Heritage Collections Online
- [St Saviour's Church, Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/then/1900s#p-30064044), 1900 · Kura Heritage Collections Online
- [Women playing hockey at Sydenham Park, Christchurch, ca 1900](https://www.chch.live/then/1900s#p-1818465), 1900 · Alexander Turnbull Library Flickr
- [Sydenham, Christchurch](https://www.chch.live/then/1910s#p-30071659), 1910 · Kura Heritage Collections Online
- [Sydenham, Christchurch, NZ](https://www.chch.live/then/1910s#p-40751144), 1910 · Te Papa Collections Online

[…and 29 more across the archive](https://www.chch.live/then)

## The record on Sydenham
- Sydenham enters the written record in 30 March 1858, [“toCleanings of News. FROM ENGLISH PAPERS TO 16TH DECEMBER. (Colonist, 30 March 1858)”](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18580330.2.11), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past).
- “Sydenham” appears somewhere in 5,338 of the archive’s records.
- A Papers Past search for the name surfaced 30 records, leads by provenance.
- The first report here: rubbish/recycling, 26 May 2015, at 31 Sandyford St.
- Its busiest day was 30 August 2023, 144 reports in a single day.
- The street that keeps coming up is [Colombo Street](https://www.chch.live/street/sydenham/colombo-street), reported on 1,033 separate days.
- For elections the suburb’s centre falls inside [Heathcote ward](https://www.chch.live/wards/heathcote), the [Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote community board](https://www.chch.live/boards/spreydon-cashmere-heathcote) is its local layer. The whole roll is at [/wards](https://www.chch.live/wards).
- On foot: [The flat that kept its fabric](https://www.chch.live/walks/sydenham-flat), a heritage walk over this ground.

## How fast the council fixes things here (25,065 finished jobs on record)

The median council work order pinned in Sydenham took **47 hours** to resolve, the city-wide median is 3 days, so this ground runs faster than the city as a whole.
The slowest tenth of finished jobs waited 6 weeks or longer.
433 tickets are open here now, the oldest was filed 17 February 2020.

Work orders, not resident reports, the council’s MyCouncilTicket stream, and one job can appear in both. A median counts only finished jobs; open ones are named as open, never averaged in. [The ticket roll](https://www.chch.live/fixed) · [the whole city’s fix times](https://www.chch.live/trends#fix).

## Alcohol rules on this ground

**South Colombo**, a public drinking ban (at all times, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week), covers nearly all of Sydenham.
One sensitive site stands here, St Peter's School Te Kura Haoika, and the Local Alcohol Policy restricts new off-licences within 200 m of it.

The council’s bylaw zones and the Local Alcohol Policy’s buffer list. A ban rules drinking in public places; it says nothing about whether a premises may sell, that is the licence register’s job.

## Lately
- [Pest / Vermin](https://www.chch.live/report/9083365), 13 Oct 2026 · 15B Byron St, “Please remove large bees nest - urgent”
- [Damaged Street Light](https://www.chch.live/report/9082854), 13 Oct 2026 · 458 Colombo Street, “open wires”
- [Damaged Street Sign](https://www.chch.live/report/9077321), 12 Oct 2026 · 45 Carlyle Street, “Damaged road sign, island mid road, Gasson Street corner Carlyle Street Sydenham. Thanks. Please notify me when this…”
- [Pothole](https://www.chch.live/report/9076661), 12 Oct 2026 · 50–86 Kingsley St, “Pot hole in intersection needs repairing”
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/9076056), 12 Oct 2026 · 33–45 Strickland St, “More rubbish dumped on Sunday night ??”
- [Pothole](https://www.chch.live/report/9075345), 12 Oct 2026 · 6 Gilbert Place, “a range of further potholes largely caused by council trucks tearing up road sharp turning when fixing Rogers…”
- [Street Light Outage](https://www.chch.live/report/9074348), 12 Oct 2026 · 91 Tennyson Street, “Street light stopped working. Yesterday it was flickering, this morning I noticed it fully stopped working.”
- [Traffic Signals urgent safety issue](https://www.chch.live/report/9073288), 11 Oct 2026 · 150 Somerfield St, “Ped push button SW corner not working to cross Colombo”
- [Roads - General](https://www.chch.live/report/9068904), 10 Oct 2026 · Bruce Rod, “Heaps of glass left on the road from recent accident. Scattered for probably about 15 meters, screenshot is poor…”
- [Water Leak](https://www.chch.live/report/9067823), 10 Oct 2026 · 87 Tennyson St, “Water leak from underneath the tarmac in the shared driveway. It has probably been there for a while as a slow leak and…”
- [Abandoned Vehicle](https://www.chch.live/report/9066067), 10 Oct 2026 · 39 Cadogan Street, “car on road, no reg, license plates removed”
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/9065756), 10 Oct 2026 · 144 Huxley Street

## Reports per year
- 2015, 120
- 2016, 516
- 2017, 744
- 2018, 1,329
- 2019, 1,339
- 2020, 1,650
- 2021, 1,881
- 2022, 2,933
- 2023, 3,831
- 2024, 3,933
- 2025, 3,310

## What gets reported
- [Graffiti & vandalism](https://www.chch.live/problems/graffiti), 11,268
- Rubbish & dumping, 4,123
- Roads & footpaths, 3,719
- Water & drains, 2,304
- Trees & parks, 1,266
- Vehicles & parking, 498
- Everything else, 490
- [Animals & pests](https://www.chch.live/problems/animals-pests), 43

## Exactly what people say
- [Graffiti](https://www.chch.live/problems/graffiti), 6,894
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/problems/dumped-rubbish), 2,437
- [Graffiti on a fence, building or structure](https://www.chch.live/problems/graffiti), 1,856
- [Roading/Streets](https://www.chch.live/problems/road-damage), 1,232
- [Graffiti somewhere else](https://www.chch.live/problems/graffiti), 1,088
- [Rubbish/Recycling](https://www.chch.live/problems/bins-recycling), 1,035
- [Pavement - Damaged](https://www.chch.live/problems/footpaths), 1,022
- [Water Leak](https://www.chch.live/problems/water-leaks), 973

## On the heritage register (10)
- [Dwelling and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/57), 12 Drummond Street
- [Dwelling and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/136), 52 Longfellow Street
- [Dwelling and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/220), 5 Shelley Street
- [Dwelling and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/221), 6 Shelley Street
- [Dwelling and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/230), 61A Tennyson Street
- [Former Dwellings and Setting, Blackheath Place](https://www.chch.live/place/58), 71 Durham Street South
- [Former MED Substation and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/291), 259 Milton Street
- [King Edward VII Coronation Memorial Lamp and Drinking Fountain and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/15)
- [MED Substation and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/77), 99A Gasson Street
- [MED Substation and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/215), 19E Millar Street

The register’s own page for the area: [Sydenham on the heritage register](https://www.chch.live/history/sydenham)

On foot: [The flat that kept its fabric](https://www.chch.live/walks/sydenham-flat), heritage walk over this ground.

## The streets that keep coming up
- [Colombo Street](https://www.chch.live/street/sydenham/colombo-street), reported on 1,033 separate days
- [Waltham Road](https://www.chch.live/street/sydenham/waltham-road), reported on 640 separate days
- [Wordsworth Street](https://www.chch.live/street/sydenham/wordsworth-street), reported on 402 separate days
- [King Street](https://www.chch.live/street/sydenham/king-street), reported on 377 separate days
- [Moorhouse Avenue](https://www.chch.live/street/sydenham/moorhouse-avenue), reported on 372 separate days
- [Huxley Street](https://www.chch.live/street/sydenham/huxley-street), reported on 359 separate days
- [Strickland Street](https://www.chch.live/street/sydenham/strickland-street), reported on 316 separate days
- [Tennyson Street](https://www.chch.live/street/sydenham/tennyson-street), reported on 306 separate days

Zoned for [Christchurch Adventist School](https://www.chch.live/school/317-christchurch-adventist-school) · [Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate School](https://www.chch.live/school/3318-christchurch-south-karamata-intermediate-school) · [Hillview Christian School](https://www.chch.live/school/341-hillview-christian-school) · [Marian College](https://www.chch.live/school/343-marian-college) · [Middleton Grange School](https://www.chch.live/school/335-middleton-grange-school) · [St Thomas of Canterbury College](https://www.chch.live/school/331-st-thomas-of-canterbury-college) · and 10 more zones, the drawn zone is indicative; the Ministry’s written scheme is the legal boundary.

## The green here (14)
- [Sydenham Park](https://www.chch.live/park/1107-sydenham-park), Sports ground · 5 ha
- [Bradford Park](https://www.chch.live/park/1591-bradford-park), Sports ground · 3 ha · playground, 40 pieces
- [Washington Way Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1316-washington-way-reserve), Sports ground
- [Cameron Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1575-cameron-reserve), playground, 21 pieces
- [Buchan Playground](https://www.chch.live/park/1146-buchan-playground), playground, 5 pieces
- [Jacksons Creek](https://www.chch.live/park/1195-jacksons-creek)
- [Cadogan Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1690-cadogan-reserve), playground, 2 pieces
- [Hastings Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1789-hastings-reserve), playground, 2 pieces
- [Mabel Howard Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1286-mabel-howard-reserve), playground, 10 pieces
- [Southey Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1570-southey-reserve)
- [Science Alive Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1753-science-alive-reserve)
- [Carlyle Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1273-carlyle-reserve)
- [Gasson Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1083-gasson-reserve)
- [Colombo Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1447-colombo-reserve)

A park lands in the suburb its centre falls inside, a centroid call, not a containment claim.

## Where the suburb worships (6)
- [Beckenham Baptist Church](https://www.chch.live/worship/beckenham-baptist-church), a Baptist church · 146 Colombo Street
- [Connect Church Christchurch](https://www.chch.live/worship/connect-church-christchurch), a Pentecostal church · 53 Brisbane Street
- [Saint Peter's](https://www.chch.live/worship/saint-peter-s), a Catholic church
- [St Saviour's Anglican Church - Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/worship/st-saviour-s-anglican-church-sydenham), an Anglican church · 200 Colombo Street
- [Sydenham Worship & Community Centre](https://www.chch.live/worship/sydenham-worship-community-centre), a Salvation Army church · 250 Colombo Street
- [The Well](https://www.chch.live/worship/the-well), a Wesleyan church · 364 Colombo Street

The whole roll is at [/worship](https://www.chch.live/worship).

## The tracks through here (18)
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-452-sydenham), 2.3 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-442-sydenham), 2.2 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-520-beckenham), 2.2 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-522-christchurch-central-city), 2.1 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-550-sydenham), 1.9 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-484-addington), 1.9 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-507-cashmere), 1.8 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-441-sydenham), 1.5 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-530-beckenham), 1.5 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-513-sydenham), 1.3 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-474-somerfield), 1.1 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-514-waltham), 1.1 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-553-sydenham), 1.1 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-543-sydenham), 834 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-515-sydenham), 804 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-492-sydenham), 733 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-559-waltham), 542 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-549-waltham), 93 m · walk · bike

A track belongs to every suburb its line passes through.

## The ground that moved
The February 2011 survey drew mapped ground failure over 39.4% of this outline, about 120 hectares. A patch is a footprint, not a finding about an address; the count for the whole city is at [liquefaction](https://www.chch.live/liquefaction).
The 2011 grading filed 7.2% of this outline, about 22 hectares, mostly **TC3**, with TC3 21 ha · TC2 1 ha. A category is a verdict for a patch of ground, not a finding about an address; the grades are at [technical-categories](https://www.chch.live/technical-categories).
The flood record drew water over 1.4% of this outline, across 3 named events. A patch is one event’s observation, not a live hazard finding; the record is at [floods](https://www.chch.live/floods).
No high-hazard flood area covers this outline. The broader flood-management watch covers **34%** of it, Bells Creek, Heathcote River. Shares read from a sampled join; a model’s map, not a promise. The waiting water: [flood-hazard](https://www.chch.live/flood-hazard).
The plan’s noise overlays cover **3%** of this outline, about 10 hectares across **1** mapped overlay. Shares read from a sampled join; a planning line, not a meter’s reading. The quiet lines: [noise](https://www.chch.live/noise).
The plan’s water-margin layers cross this outline, **32** classified reaches, the plan calling **Jacksons Creek Upper** and **Heathcote / Opawaho River**
           by name, **2%** of it inside the setback strips, the widest holding **30 m** off the bank. The margin is the plan’s drawing, not a survey of the bank. The drawn water: [water-margin](https://www.chch.live/water-margin).
The plan’s allowed shape holds this outline, **37%** of it inside the residential overlays, the densest standing **Medium Density**, inside the central city’s walking catchment. The shape is the plan’s permission, not a survey of what stands. The allowed shape: [density](https://www.chch.live/density).
The rebuild’s cameras filed **7,352** photographs on this ground, 2009–2017, stormwater work mostly. Each frame is a receipt the dig left behind, a work log, not a survey of what stands now. The whole record: [rebuild](https://www.chch.live/rebuild).
The pedal network threads this ground, **34.6 km** of cycleway crosses the outline, 3.0 km of it separated from the traffic, [Quarryman's Trail](https://www.chch.live/cycleway/quarryman-s-trail), [Southern Lights](https://www.chch.live/cycleway/southern-lights), [Ōpāwaho River](https://www.chch.live/cycleway/opawaho-river). A segment counts under every suburb its path enters; the whole network: [cycleways](https://www.chch.live/cycleways).
The remembered names stand on this ground, **8** inscribed plaques, [Sydenham School Memorial](https://www.chch.live/plaque/28992-sydenham-school-memorial), [Sydenham Park](https://www.chch.live/plaque/310938-sydenham-park), [Rail Workers Memorial](https://www.chch.live/plaque/7164-rail-workers-memorial) among the grounds. The plaque is the register’s pin, not a surveyed spot; the whole roll: [plaques](https://www.chch.live/plaques).
The rulebook binds this ground, **10** drawn instruments, 2 of them dog rules, 2 alcohol bans, 1 camping zone, a certified self-contained van can stay the night at Christchurch Urban Restricted Area, 5 bottle-store buffers; the outline sits inside the takiwā of Te Ngai Tuahuriri Runanga. The bylaw is the instrument, this the map of it, the rulebook: [rules](https://www.chch.live/rules).
**75** parcels inside this outline sit on the hazardous-activities register, mostly chemical manufacture, application and bulk storage, cemeteries and waste recycling, treatment and disposal, vehicle refuelling, service and repair, 39 still doing the work. A listing records the work, not a soil test; the register is at [hazards](https://www.chch.live/hazards).
The files record **65** parcels of made or characterised ground inside this outline, about 13 hectares, mostly mixed fill with rubbish, gravel, sand, 20 carry fill the file can’t vouch for. A record is the file’s word on what was laid, not a fresh survey; the layer is at [fill](https://www.chch.live/fill).
**16** parcels inside this outline carry a cleanup on the file. A cleanup on the file is the register’s word, not a clearance; the register is at [remediated](https://www.chch.live/remediated).
The 2019 liquefaction study put **81%** of this outline in the **medium** class, and 2 assessed areas here carry the free-face flag for possible lateral spreading. A class is the model’s verdict on a patch of ground, not a finding about an address; the study is at [vulnerability](https://www.chch.live/vulnerability).
The council’s structure register stands **12** assets on this ground, 8 sets of steps, 3 bridges, 1 ramp, sited at Jacksons Creek, Sydenham Community Centre, Housing Lancewood Courts, Cameron Reserve. Site names are the register’s own labels; the layer is drawn on [the map](https://www.chch.live/map?layer=structures).
The recreation register keeps **10** records inside this outline, bookable surfaces for 5 cricket, 2 rugby, 1 hockey, 1 skateboard. Seasons and surfaces are the register’s record, not this week’s draw; the layer is drawn on [the map](https://www.chch.live/map?layer=recreation).
The register counts **1385** living trees inside this outline, **31** veterans among them, 43 carrying a protection, mostly Silver Birch, Kobushi Magnolia, Pin Oak. The file remembers **660** trees felled here. A tree record is the register’s word on what stands or stood; the canopy is at [trees](https://www.chch.live/trees).
The plan files **33%** of this outline under **Medium density residential zone**, **40%** residential, the rest mostly Industrial General 22%, Transport 20%. A zone is a permission, not a description, the mix is a sampled read of the plan’s polygons; the district’s zoning is at [zones](https://www.chch.live/zones).
The plan reserves about **1 hectares** of this outline, **1%** , under 1 designation, mostly movement. A designation is a claim on the ground, not a build date, the mix is a sampled read; the register is at [designations](https://www.chch.live/designations).
The plan’s exceptions touch **4%** of this outline, 8 qualifying matters, mostly residential, heritage, utilities. A matter narrows how the density rule applies, it does not forbid; the mix is a sampled read, and the cultural-significance areas are the plan’s own unnamed ones. The register is at [matters](https://www.chch.live/matters).
The plan’s heritage schedule protects **10** places by name in this suburb, **Dwelling and Setting**, **Dwelling and Setting**, **Dwelling and Setting** among them. And the street itself is listed, the **Shelley/Forbes Street** heritage area lies here, protected as a street rather than house by house. A setting is the ground the item stands in, each files under the suburb holding its centroid. The schedule is at [heritage](https://www.chch.live/heritage).
GeoNet’s catalogue puts 7 magnitude-3+ epicentres inside this outline since the sequence opened, the biggest a M4.7 in 2010. An epicentre is where the instruments placed the break, not a measure of the shaking here; the whole catalogue is counted at [sequence](https://www.chch.live/sequence), and the story in plain language is [the earthquakes explainer](https://www.chch.live/how-nz-works/canterbury-earthquakes).

## The names on this ground (5)
- [Llew Summers 2014](https://www.chch.live/memorial/llew-summers-2014), artwork
- [Seeds of Life](https://www.chch.live/memorial/seeds-of-life), artwork · Frankie Bakker
- [Canterbury Workers Memorial](https://www.chch.live/memorial/canterbury-workers-memorial), monument
- [Jacksons Creek](https://www.chch.live/river/jacksons-creek), waterway · 4.1 km
- [Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River](https://www.chch.live/river/opawaho-heathcote-river), waterway · 30.7 km

The named waterways, bays, headlands, monuments, summits and old sites OpenStreetMap puts inside this outline, a pin is the mapper’s own; a waterway belongs to every suburb it crosses. Every roll, counted: [geography](https://www.chch.live/geography).

## Documents that name it

*These are leads, not verified claims, search ties, not read sources.*
- [toCleanings of News. FROM ENGLISH PAPERS TO 16TH DECEMBER. (Colonist, 30 March 1858)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18580330.2.11), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1858-03-30T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 02 March 1861)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18610302.2.15.1), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1861-03-02T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 13 April 1861)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18610413.2.28.4), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1861-04-13T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 April 1861)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18610413.2.25.2), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1861-04-13T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 17 April 1861)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18610417.2.22.4), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1861-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 24 April 1861)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18610424.2.27.4), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1861-04-24T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 01 May 1861)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18610501.2.24.4), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1861-05-01T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 04 May 1861)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18610504.2.23.4), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1861-05-04T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 08 May 1861)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18610508.2.21.4), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1861-05-08T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 15 May 1861)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18610515.2.26.4), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1861-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

## The wire on Sydenham
- [Magpie Tiger Moths seen — Waltham Rd near Coleridge St, Sydenham, Christchurch 8023, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/407167431), iNaturalist · sigourney_juneau, 10 Oct 2026
- [Megatominae seen — Waltham Rd near Hastings St E, Sydenham, Christchurch 8023, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/405694034), iNaturalist · sigourney_juneau, 4 Oct 2026
- [Where to eat in Sydenham, Christchurch – an insider’s guide](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimwFBVV95cUxPcTNRYzRtZGVkZGFnMjFRb1ZSTzlQVG0yNmFUMFIxbEltWGdqVlh2Q1pIVkxxUGtpRy1BY2JZa3k5b2xlS1RHWDlrT1VzTDVZazdna1JKaXBpZFlRTmRfUG9MamluRHlZelVFR2FsV3hMRXU5dm9HVTV5Xzl0bmRXbXdJbF9hOUNyVTY5dXBSZFkwYkFQLXBhaUg0bw?oc=5), The news · The Spinoff, 3 Oct 2026
- [Was listening to his track and a memory popped up that he played here at Sydenham Underpass, on a weekday. Hadnt gone cos I had work in the next day. How was the gig, sound setup etc.? Keen to know :)](https://www.reddit.com/r/chch/comments/1wryp8q/anyone_been_to_flowdan_last_year/), r/chch · Outrageous-Evening13, 28 Sept 2026

[The whole wire](https://www.chch.live/wire)

## The crash record (819 injury crashes)

819 crashes that hurt somebody on record inside the suburb’s outline, 11 people killed, 139 seriously hurt.

The corner that keeps appearing: [Moorhouse Avenue at Manchester Street](https://www.chch.live/crashes?road=moorhouse-ave&suburb=sydenham), 29 injury crashes.

- [Every crash it holds](https://www.chch.live/crashes?suburb=sydenham)
- [The city’s whole record](https://www.chch.live/crashes)

## The crime record (5,564 recorded victimisations)

5,564 victimisations on the NZ Police record inside the suburb’s outline, September 2022–August 2026, mostly theft, about 205 a year per 1,000 residents. Reported is not all, how much never reaches the record depends on the offence.

- [The suburb on the crime map](https://www.chch.live/crime?grain=suburb&area=sydenham)
- [The city’s whole record](https://www.chch.live/crime)

## The buses through it (41 stops)

41 Metro stops inside the suburb’s outline, in ECan’s stop record, served by [route 1](https://www.chch.live/buses/1), [route 8](https://www.chch.live/buses/8), [route 140](https://www.chch.live/buses/140), [route 27](https://www.chch.live/buses/27), [route 44](https://www.chch.live/buses/44), [route 84](https://www.chch.live/buses/84), [route 85](https://www.chch.live/buses/85), [route 95](https://www.chch.live/buses/95).
- Aylmer St and Colombo St
- Brougham St near Albemarle St near Brougham St
- Brougham St near Albemarle St near Brougham St
- Brougham St near Brisbane St near Brougham St
- Brougham St near Brisbane St near Brougham St
- Brougham St near Waltham Rd
- Colombo St and Somerfield St
- Colombo St near Boon St
- Colombo St near Byron St
- Colombo St near Cass St
- Colombo St near Devon St
- Colombo St near Hastings St W
- Colombo St near King St
- Colombo St near Lawson St
- Colombo St near Somerfield St
- Colombo St near Southampton St

- [Every route in the record](https://www.chch.live/buses)

## Businesses here (373 in the directory)

From OpenStreetMap, the council’s licensed-premises register and its 2024 Find Christchurch directory, each kind opens at this suburb’s shelf.

- [Fast food](https://www.chch.live/businesses/fast-food#in-sydenham), 49
- [Cafés](https://www.chch.live/businesses/cafe#in-sydenham), 29
- [Restaurants](https://www.chch.live/businesses/restaurant#in-sydenham), 29
- [Clothing](https://www.chch.live/businesses/clothes#in-sydenham), 12
- [Doctors & clinics](https://www.chch.live/businesses/doctor#in-sydenham), 11
- [Supermarkets](https://www.chch.live/businesses/supermarket#in-sydenham), 11
- [Delis](https://www.chch.live/businesses/deli#in-sydenham), 10
- [Bars & pubs](https://www.chch.live/businesses/bar#in-sydenham), 9
- [Bottle stores](https://www.chch.live/businesses/liquor#in-sydenham), 9
- [Car dealers](https://www.chch.live/businesses/car-dealer#in-sydenham), 9
- [Car repair](https://www.chch.live/businesses/car-repair#in-sydenham), 9
- [Furniture](https://www.chch.live/businesses/furniture#in-sydenham), 8
- [Hairdressers](https://www.chch.live/businesses/hairdresser#in-sydenham), 8
- [Op shops](https://www.chch.live/businesses/op-shop#in-sydenham), 8
- [Galleries](https://www.chch.live/businesses/gallery#in-sydenham), 7
- [Bike shops](https://www.chch.live/businesses/bike-shop#in-sydenham), 6
- [Company](https://www.chch.live/businesses/office-company#in-sydenham), 6
- [Attractions](https://www.chch.live/businesses/attraction#in-sydenham), 5
- [Department stores](https://www.chch.live/businesses/department-store#in-sydenham), 5
- [Gyms & fitness](https://www.chch.live/businesses/gym#in-sydenham), 5
- [Sports centres](https://www.chch.live/businesses/sports-centre#in-sydenham), 5
- [Bakeries](https://www.chch.live/businesses/bakery#in-sydenham), 4
- [Butchers](https://www.chch.live/businesses/butcher#in-sydenham), 4
- [Caterers](https://www.chch.live/businesses/caterer#in-sydenham), 4
- [Dairies & convenience](https://www.chch.live/businesses/dairy#in-sydenham), 4
- [Hardware](https://www.chch.live/businesses/hardware#in-sydenham), 4
- [Bed](https://www.chch.live/businesses/bed#in-sydenham), 3
- [IT & software](https://www.chch.live/businesses/it-services#in-sydenham), 3
- [Office Government](https://www.chch.live/businesses/office-government#in-sydenham), 3
- [Petrol stations](https://www.chch.live/businesses/fuel#in-sydenham), 3
- [Recruitment](https://www.chch.live/businesses/recruitment#in-sydenham), 3
- [Seafood](https://www.chch.live/businesses/seafood#in-sydenham), 3
- [ATMs](https://www.chch.live/businesses/atm#in-sydenham), 2
- [Beauty](https://www.chch.live/businesses/beauty#in-sydenham), 2
- [Clubs](https://www.chch.live/businesses/club#in-sydenham), 2
- [Dentists](https://www.chch.live/businesses/dentist#in-sydenham), 2
- [Electronics](https://www.chch.live/businesses/electronics#in-sydenham), 2
- [Fruit & veg](https://www.chch.live/businesses/greengrocer#in-sydenham), 2
- [Hotels](https://www.chch.live/businesses/hotel#in-sydenham), 2
- [Houseware](https://www.chch.live/businesses/houseware#in-sydenham), 2
- [Lawyers](https://www.chch.live/businesses/lawyer#in-sydenham), 2
- [Outdoor gear](https://www.chch.live/businesses/outdoor-gear#in-sydenham), 2
- [Pharmacies](https://www.chch.live/businesses/pharmacy#in-sydenham), 2
- [Printers & copy shops](https://www.chch.live/businesses/printing#in-sydenham), 2
- [Security](https://www.chch.live/businesses/office-security#in-sydenham), 2
- [Toy shops](https://www.chch.live/businesses/toys#in-sydenham), 2
- [Wholesale](https://www.chch.live/businesses/wholesale#in-sydenham), 2
- [2 Dollar Shop](https://www.chch.live/businesses/2-dollar-shop#in-sydenham), 1
- [Accountants](https://www.chch.live/businesses/accountant#in-sydenham), 1
- [Advertising Agency](https://www.chch.live/businesses/office-advertising-agency#in-sydenham), 1
- [Auction](https://www.chch.live/businesses/auction#in-sydenham), 1
- [B&Bs](https://www.chch.live/businesses/bnb#in-sydenham), 1
- [Bookshops](https://www.chch.live/businesses/bookshop#in-sydenham), 1
- [Car washes](https://www.chch.live/businesses/car-wash#in-sydenham), 1
- [Carpet](https://www.chch.live/businesses/carpet#in-sydenham), 1
- [Cinemas & theatres](https://www.chch.live/businesses/cinema#in-sydenham), 1
- [Coffee roasters](https://www.chch.live/businesses/coffee-roaster#in-sydenham), 1
- [Computers](https://www.chch.live/businesses/computers#in-sydenham), 1
- [Craft](https://www.chch.live/businesses/craft#in-sydenham), 1
- [Electricians](https://www.chch.live/businesses/electrician#in-sydenham), 1
- [Electronics Repair](https://www.chch.live/businesses/craft-electronics-repair#in-sydenham), 1
- [Fabric](https://www.chch.live/businesses/fabric#in-sydenham), 1
- [Financial](https://www.chch.live/businesses/office-financial#in-sydenham), 1
- [Financial advisors](https://www.chch.live/businesses/financial-advisor#in-sydenham), 1
- [Florists](https://www.chch.live/businesses/florist#in-sydenham), 1
- [Food](https://www.chch.live/businesses/food#in-sydenham), 1
- [Gas](https://www.chch.live/businesses/gas#in-sydenham), 1
- [Groundskeeping](https://www.chch.live/businesses/groundskeeping#in-sydenham), 1
- [Health Food](https://www.chch.live/businesses/health-food#in-sydenham), 1
- [Heating & air con](https://www.chch.live/businesses/hvac#in-sydenham), 1
- [Insulation](https://www.chch.live/businesses/craft-insulation#in-sydenham), 1
- [Jewellery](https://www.chch.live/businesses/jewellery#in-sydenham), 1
- [Laundromats](https://www.chch.live/businesses/laundromat#in-sydenham), 1
- [Lighting](https://www.chch.live/businesses/lighting#in-sydenham), 1
- [Makerspaces](https://www.chch.live/businesses/makerspace#in-sydenham), 1
- [Malls](https://www.chch.live/businesses/mall#in-sydenham), 1
- [Markets](https://www.chch.live/businesses/market#in-sydenham), 1
- [Massage](https://www.chch.live/businesses/massage#in-sydenham), 1
- [Motels](https://www.chch.live/businesses/motel#in-sydenham), 1
- [Nutrition Supplements](https://www.chch.live/businesses/nutrition-supplements#in-sydenham), 1
- [Pet shops](https://www.chch.live/businesses/pet-shop#in-sydenham), 1
- [Phone shops](https://www.chch.live/businesses/phones#in-sydenham), 1
- [Physio](https://www.chch.live/businesses/physio#in-sydenham), 1
- [Printer Ink](https://www.chch.live/businesses/printer-ink#in-sydenham), 1
- [Real estate](https://www.chch.live/businesses/real-estate#in-sydenham), 1
- [Rental](https://www.chch.live/businesses/rental#in-sydenham), 1
- [Tobacco](https://www.chch.live/businesses/tobacco#in-sydenham), 1
- [Travel agents](https://www.chch.live/businesses/travel-agent#in-sydenham), 1
- [Tutoring](https://www.chch.live/businesses/office-tutoring#in-sydenham), 1
- [Union](https://www.chch.live/businesses/office-union#in-sydenham), 1
- [Variety Store](https://www.chch.live/businesses/variety-store#in-sydenham), 1
- [Venues & events](https://www.chch.live/businesses/venue#in-sydenham), 1

The ones the record says most about:

- [29 Sweets](https://www.chch.live/business/29-sweets-sydenham), Restaurants
- [Zaffron](https://www.chch.live/business/zaffron-sydenham), Restaurants
- [5th Street](https://www.chch.live/business/5th-street-sydenham), Restaurants
- [Bikanervala](https://www.chch.live/business/bikanervala-sydenham), Restaurants
- [Burgers & Beers Inc.](https://www.chch.live/business/burgers-beers-inc-sydenham), Fast food
- [Denny's](https://www.chch.live/business/denny-s-sydenham), Restaurants
- [Formaggio's](https://www.chch.live/business/formaggio-s-sydenham), Restaurants
- [Hell](https://www.chch.live/business/hell-sydenham), Fast food
- [MoriMori](https://www.chch.live/business/morimori-sydenham), Restaurants
- [Pedro's House of Lamb](https://www.chch.live/business/pedro-s-house-of-lamb-sydenham), Fast food

- [The whole directory](https://www.chch.live/businesses)

## Next door
- [Waltham](https://www.chch.live/waltham)
- [Saint Martins](https://www.chch.live/saint-martins)
- [Beckenham](https://www.chch.live/beckenham)
- [Christchurch Central City](https://www.chch.live/christchurch-central-city)
- [Addington](https://www.chch.live/addington)
- [Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/somerfield)

[Compare](https://www.chch.live/compare) Sydenham with [Waltham](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=sydenham&b=waltham) · [Saint Martins](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=saint-martins&b=sydenham) · [Beckenham](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=beckenham&b=sydenham) · [Christchurch Central City](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=christchurch-central-city&b=sydenham) · [Addington](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=addington&b=sydenham) · [Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=somerfield&b=sydenham), same record, side by side.

## Questions, answered briefly

**What is Sydenham?**

Sydenham is an inner suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, 2 kilometres south of the city centre, on and around the city's main street, Colombo Street. The public record holds 23,724 council reports for it, the first filed in May 2015.

**How many people live in Sydenham?**

6,970 people at the 2023 Census, 2,291 per square kilometre across 3.0 km².

**How many people does the 2023 Census count for Sydenham?**

About 6,774 people and 3,084 occupied private households (combined SA2s): grouped from Stats NZ SA1 areas through this site’s suburb join. Indicative, not a LIM.

**What gets reported in Sydenham?**

23,724 reports on record, most often graffiti & vandalism (11,268), rubbish & dumping (4,123), roads & footpaths (3,719). 3,025 of them in the year to 13 October 2026.

**How many crashes has Sydenham had?**

819 injury crashes on the police record inside the suburb’s outline, 11 people killed, 139 seriously hurt. [The suburb’s crashes, mapped →](https://www.chch.live/crashes?suburb=sydenham)

**What stood in Sydenham before?**

The heritage register holds 10 places here, [Dwelling and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/57), [Dwelling and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/136) among them. The written record goes back further: [the shelf, for the name →](https://www.chch.live/documents?q=%22Sydenham%22)

Data: https://api.chch.live/suburb?name=Sydenham · Reports: https://api.chch.live/reports.rss?suburb=Sydenham