Christchurch: A Chronology to 1989

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

Go to a year between 1700 & 1989

August 15, 1872: Novelist Anthony Trollope visits.
August 15, 1945: V.J. (Victory over Japan) day celebrations.
August 15, 1981: Massive demonstrations in Christchurch against rugby test between All Blacks and Springboks.
August 16, 1866: Cook Strait cable service links North and South Islands.
August 16, 1868: Tsunami ("tidal wave") in Lyttelton Harbour. Part of the harbour bottom was laid bare, then a wave swept in, damaging the "Novelty".
August 16, 1890: First inter-provincial soccer match held in Christchurch. Canterbury beat Wellington 2-0.
August 17, 1903: City abattoir opens at Sockburn.
August 18, 1974: Concert by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
August 19, 1840: French settlers land at Akaroa.
August 19, 1859: Chamber of Commerce established in Lyttelton.
August 20, 1860: Canterbury Vocal Society formed. After several changes of name, it became the Royal Christchurch Musical Society in 1920. It is the oldest continually operating choral group in New Zealand.
August 20, 1984: A longterm aim of banning open fires is approved by the Christchurch City Council.
August 21, 1989: Sir Hamish Hay announces he will not stand for position of Mayor after 15 years in Local Body politics.

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.