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 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.
August 22, 1910: Ilam homestead (on the site of the present university staff club) destroyed by fire.
August 22, 1925: Radio Broadcasting Company of N.Z. incorporated in Christchurch - the country’s first public radio company. The company became the major force in early radio, eventually owning and operating a chain of YA stations throughout the country. See 1932
August 24, 1857: Evans Pass road over the Port Hills opens.
August 24, 1914: Large patriotic procession boosts war fever.

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.