A timeline of Christchurch events in chronological order from pre-European times to 1989.

Go to a year between 1700 & 1989

Begin at the beginning

This week in history

March 2, 1970

Amid mounting controversy, City Council begins construction of road deviation through Hagley Park. The work was stopped by March 7 for legal reasons, and the project was eventually scrapped.

March 2, 1974

Re-built Centennial Pool opens.

March 3-7, 1977

Visit by Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.

March 3, 1862

First meeting of the Christchurch Municipal Council, which became the Christchurch City Council in November. John Hall elected Chairman, G. Gordon first Town Clerk.

March 3, 1879

First Town Hall design competition. But building costs were too high and the project was abandoned in March 1882.

March 3, 1939

Statue of J. E. FitzGerald in Rolleston Avenue 'unveiled' as a student prank. The statue, a gift from R. E. Green, had been offered to the City Council in 1934 and to the Beautifying Association in 1936, but had been declined by both because of legal diputes between Mr Green and his family. The statue was finally accepted by the Domains Board in 1938, but was never officially unveiled.

March 4, 1909

Te Wai Pounamu Maori Girls College established at Ohoka. The college moved to Christchurch in 1921.

March 4, 1977

Museum Antarctic wing opens.

March 5, 1863

Samuel Bealey elected third Superintendent of Canterbury.

March 6, 1856

Riccarton race course established.

March 6, 1914

First point to point flight in Canterbury by J. W. H. Scotland from Timaru to Christchurch. In the same year, Scotland had the dubious privilege of becoming the first pilot to crash in New Zealand.

March 6, 1989

Visit by Princess Anne, the Princess Royal.

March 7-8, 1964

Air exposition at airport marks opening of runway extensions (to 2400 metres) and 50th anniversary of Scotland’s Timaru to Christchurch flight.

March 7, 1925

Cholmondeley Home for children (a gift of Hugh Heber Cholmondeley) opens at Governors Bay.

March 8, 1958

Christchurch athlete Marise Chamberlain breaks world record for 440 yards.

Notes

• Information for this resource was based on the second edition of John Densem’s Christchurch chronology: a history of settlement. Environmental Policy and Planning Policy Unit, Christchurch City Council, 1990.
  More about the Christchurch Chronology.
• This resource includes links to various other local history resources on our websites and images from our photographs collection - clicking on the image will take you to a larger version of that image.