Heritage

Christchurch: a chronology

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 Start here

This week in history

July 28, 1964
Rolleston Avenue trees cut down by City Council, at the request of Christ’s College Board. Intense public protest follows.
July 28, 1986
Grenadier Hotel demolished in Oxford Terrace. Formerly The Royal, it was the third hotel on this site since 1851.
July 29, 1953
Aviation pioneer Richard W. Pearse dies in Christchurch. Pearse made one of the world’s first powered flights on or about March 31, 1902 in South Canterbury. He moved to Christchurch in 1921, and worked on his astonishing "convertiplane" over many years.
July 30, 1867
”Great Canterbury snowstorm“ begins. Although no accurate records are available, this may have been heavier than the record 1945 fall. Over 500,000 sheep and cattle died in Canterbury and Otago.
July 30, 1911
Over 40,000 people brave wet, cold weather to attend the funeral of Mayor T. E. Taylor (whose 6 weeks in office is the shortest on record).
July 30, 1921
Canterbury becomes the first New Zealand provincial rugby team to defeat the Springboks.
July 30, 1976
7 Canterbury men in gold medal winning hockey team at the Montreal Olympics.
July 31, 1856
By Royal Charter, Christchurch becomes New Zealand’s first city.
August 1, 1929
"Lyttelton Times" re-named "Christchurch Times" after being taken over by Auckland interests. In fact, the paper had moved from Lyttelton to Christchurch in 1863.
August 1, 1975
Severe nor-west gale causes serious damage throughout city and province. Winds gust to a record 172 kilometres per hour (107 miles per hour). Over 250 injuries in Canterbury, and many forests devastated.
August 3, 1910
Canterbury Croquet Association (New Zealand’s first) formed in City.

Notes