Christchurch: A Chronology to 1989

A timeline of some Christchurch events in chronological order from 1700s to 1989.

Go to a year between 1700 & 1989

November 12, 1918: Armistice officially announced. But this time, there was little public celebration in a city now stricken by the full effects of the ‘flu epidemic.
November 12, 1980: New Civic Offices (formerly Millers Department Store) officially open.
November 12, 1988: Richard Hadlee takes his 374th test wicket at Bangalore, India setting a new world record.
November 13, 1849: Royal Charter granted for the incorporation of the Canterbury Association.
November 15, 1851: White Hart Hotel (possibly the city’s first) in operation.
November 15, 1928: First performance by Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society, a production of "Milestones".
November 15, 1959: City Council grants charter to the Canterbury Regiment.
November 16, 1901: Earthquake (most severe at Cheviot) damages Cathedral spire again! After this third incident, the top of the spire was re-built in timber and metal instead of stone.
November 16, 1902: Antarctic relief ship "Morning' arrives at Lyttelton.
November 17, 1895: Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens) visits. He described Christchurch as a town where half the people rode bicycles and the other half were kept busy dodging them.
November 18, 1874: Addington saleyards open.
November 18, 1947: Disastrous fire in Ballantynes Department store. 41 lives lost in New Zealand’s worst fire tragedy. The fire led to drastic revisions of fire safety codes throughout the country.