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Christchurch

SummaryBrief history of Christchurch, with links to related collections, as well as postcards, images, and historic newspaper articles in our archive collections.
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Christchurch/Ōtautahi is the largest city in the South Island and the second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand, after Auckland. Christchurch lies in the Canterbury Region, near the centre of the east coast of the South Island, east of the Canterbury Plains. The Avon River/Ōtākaro flows through the centre of the city, with a large urban park along its banks. Christchurch has a reputation for being an 'English' city, with its architectural identity and common nickname the "Garden City" due to similarities with garden cities in England.

The area of modern-day greater Christchurch was first inhabited by the historic Māori iwi Waitaha in the mid-thirteenth century. Waitaha, who occupied the swamplands with patchworks of marshland, were invaded by Kāti Māmoe in the sixteenth century, and then were absorbed by Kāi Tahu a century later. Ōtautahi was inhabited seasonally, and a major trading centre was established at Kaiapoi Pā.

British colonial settlement began in the mid-nineteenth century. The First Four Ships were chartered by the Canterbury Association and brought the Canterbury Pilgrims from Britain to Lyttelton Harbour in 1850. It became a city by letters patent on 31 July 1856, making it officially the oldest established city in New Zealand. Christchurch was heavily industrialised in the early 20th century, with the opening of the Main South Line railway and the development of state housing saw rapid growth in the city's economy and population.

The city suffered a series of earthquakes from September 2010, with the most destructive occurring on 22 February 2011, in which 185 people were killed and thousands of buildings across the city suffered severe damage, with many central city buildings collapsing, leading to ongoing recovery and rebuilding projects.

SourcesWikipedia: Christchurch » Wikipedia contributors. (2025, September 23). Christchurch. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:54, September 28, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christchurch&oldid=1312919719

Newspaper Article

Illustrated London News 1850 vol.17 page 39

Illustrated London News 1852 vol.20 page 3

Illustrated London News 1853 vol.22 page 269

Illustrated London News 1853 vol.22 page 268

Illustrated London News 1859 vol.34 page 182

Illustrated London News 1861 vol.39 page 469

Illustrated London News 1862 vol.41 page 266

Illustrated London News 1863 vol.43 page 356

Illustrated London News 1864 vol.44 page 241

Illustrated London News 1864 vol.44 page 237

Illustrated London News 1864 vol.45 page 537

Illustrated London News 1864 vol.45 page 535

Illustrated London News 1864 vol.45 page 441

Illustrated London News 1865 vol.47 page 216

Illustrated London News 1865 vol.47 page 215

Illustrated London News 1865 vol.47 page 128

Illustrated London News 1866 vol.48 page 82

Illustrated London News 1866 vol.48 page 37

Illustrated London News 1868 vol.52 page 144

Illustrated London News 1871 vol.58 page 19

Illustrated London News 1878 vol.73 page 247

Illustrated London News 1883 vol.82 page 422

Illustrated London News 1886 vol.88 page 295

Items (Archive)

Punting on the Avon River, Christchurch

Avon River, Christchurch

The River Avon, Christchurch

Promenade, Wainoni Park, Christchurch

In the Domain, Christchurch

Looking south on Colombo Street, Christchurch

Avon River near St Michael's Church, Christchurch

Best wishes - Avon River, Christchurch

A Typical Provincial Court display at the N.Z. International Exhibition 1906-1907, Christchurch

Main front view of the N.Z. International Exhibition 1906-1907, Christchurch

Greetings from the New Zealand Exhibition, Christchurch 1906-1907

Trams Christchurch 1943

St Martin's Valley looking north 1944

St Martin's Valley

Statue of Robert Falcon Scott

Pioneer cottage near Christchurch

Sumner foreshore pier and railway

River Avon and Hospital

Interior of Cathedral Christchurch

High Street Christchurch

Colombo Street Christchurch

Christchurch Botanical Gardens and Museum

Cashel Street Christchurch

Series (Archive)

Series 20 - Newspaper Clippings, Race Relations and Stereotypes

Christchurch Cathedral in cathedral Square from Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 4-6631

Relates to

Subject (keywords)Christchurch (N.Z.) -- History

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