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 9, 1840: Captain Langlois in the “Compte de Paris” arrives in Pigeon Bay with 63 French settlers.
August 9, 1966: First City Council urban renewal housing (Airedale Courts) opens.
August 10, 1840: Captain Owen Stanley in HMS Britomart dashes to Akaroa and raises the British flag to proclaim sovereignty over the South Island.
August 10, 1932: Statue of Captain James Cook unveiled in Victoria Square.
August 11, 1877: Canterbury Cricket Council formed.
August 11, 1923: Christchurch Radio Society begins regular radio transmission with station 3AC.
August 12, 1849: Surveyor Edward Jollie arrives to join Thomas.
August 13, 1974: Kurashiki (Japan), becomes a sister city.
August 15, 1872: Novelist Anthony Trollope visits.
August 15, 1945: V.J. (Victory over Japan) day celebrations.
August 15, 1981: Massive demonstrations in Christchurch against rugby test between All Blacks and Springboks.

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.