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1856
- March 6
- Riccarton race course established.
- March 15
- Christchurch Club formed.
- March 27
- First wool cargo shipped to London from Lyttelton (via Auckland).
- July 31
- Christchurch became the country's first City upon the issuing of Letters Patent on 31 July 1856. This was a practice under British law whereby the monarch could designate a town a city if it became the seat of a bishop.
- (no date)
- Riccarton House built.
