Heritage

Christchurch: a chronology

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

Go to a year between 1700 & 1989

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This week in history

January 24, 1865
Steam fire engine arrives, (the first in New Zealand) and is named ”Extinguisher“.
January 24, 1941
Civic reception for playwright/composer Noel Coward.
January 24, 1974
10th Commonwealth Games open at Queen Elizabeth II Park, one of the greatest sporting events in New Zealand’s history. Visitors include the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and Princess Anne. Highlight of the opening ceremony was the New Zealand Army Band’s spectacular novelty marching routine. Seen on international live TV, the idea was soon copied by bandsmen throughout the Commonwealth.
January 25, 1892
African explorer H.M. Stanley visits.
January 25, 1974
Cantabrian Richard Tayler wins 10,000 metres in games record time. This was the first live colour TV coverage of a major race. Tayler was honoured as 1974 "Sportsman of the Year', but his sports career was cut tragically short by the onset of crippling arthritis.
January 26, 1883
New Zealand Shipping Company begins direct steam service to the United Kingdom.
January 26, 1974
Christchurch students Mark Treffers and Janie Parkhouse win gold medals in Commonwealth Games swimming events.
January 27, 1860
Writer Samuel Butler arrives at Lyttelton on “Roman Emperor”. He is best remembered for the novel “Erewhon”, published after his return to England several years later.
January 27, 1873
Christchurch Domains Board constituted.
January 28, 1851
Fire destroys a large part of Riccarton (Deans) Bush.
January 29, 1875
Kaiapoi Woollen Mills founded.

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