A timeline of some Christchurch events in chronological order from 1700s to 1989.
Go to a year between 1700 & 1989
Begin at the beginning
This week in history
- March 17, 1857
- First vehicle crosses the Port Hills - a spring cart pulled by bullocks negotiates the Bridle Path.
- March 17, 1864
- Arthurs Pass crossed by Arthur (later Sir Arthur) Dudley Dobson. He became the Christchurch City Surveyor in 1901.
- March 17, 1928
- Civic Theatre opens in Manchester Street. The theatre was built in the burned out shell of the old Alexandra Hall; part of the Canterbury Exhibition Hall. See 1900 and 1917.
- March 18, 1850
- Jollie completes survey and plan of Christchurch.
- March 19, 1837
- First permanent shore whaling station set up at Peraki Bay, Banks Peninsula, by Captain George Hempleman. Hempleman and his wife were New Zealands first German settlers.
- March 19, 1854
- Commission appointed to report on road, sea and railway access between Lyttelton and Christchurch.
- March 20, 1866
- First Cobb & Co. coaches to the West Coast.
- March 20, 1873
- Death of pioneer doctor and photographer Dr.A.C. Barker.
- March 20, 1883
- Sumner Town Boards first meeting.
- March 20, 1898
- "Horse fiend" strikes at Halswell. The "fiend" killed several horses over a period of time, including 2 valuable stallions in 1899.
- March 20, 1917
- Avonside and St Martins join City.
- March 21, 1848
- Canterbury Association formed in London.
- March 21, 1864
- New Zealands first hansom cab arrives in City.
- March 21, 1918
- First meeting of the Canterbury Progress League (now the Canterbury Promotion Council).
- March 22, 1894
- First "local option" poll fails to achieve liquor prohibition in Christchurch.
- March 22, 1975
- 3000 joggers take part in the first City-to-Surf fun run.
- March 23, 1827
- Edward Gibbon Wakefield, later to be the architect of the Canterbury settlement, tried and imprisoned in England for abduction.
- March 23, 1866
- Road to the West Coast officially opens.
- March 23, 1977
- Durham Street overbridge opens.