Heritage

Christchurch: a chronology

A timeline of Christchurch events in chronological order from pre-European times to 1989.

Go to a year between 1700 & 1989

Begin at the beginning Start here

This week in history

September 20, 1916
Canterbury Aviation Company founded by Henry (later Sir Henry) Wigram.
September 21, 1867
Trout introduced from Tasmania. The ova were reared in special covered ponds built in Hagley Park next to the hospital. Salmon were introduced a year later.
September 23, 1914
First Canterbury contingent sails on "Tahiti" and "Athenic" from Lyttelton for the war in Europe.
September 23, 1977
First Vietnamese refugees arrive in City.
September 24, 1881
Telephone exchange (the first in New Zealand) begins operation.
September 24, 1960
Jellie Park Pool opens.
September 25, 1965
Riot at Paparua Prison. 40 warders and police injured.
September 25, 1983
Coldest recorded day in September with a maximum of 5.9o.
September 26, 1897
Reading of the Riot Act to an angry crowd of about 6000 in Lichfield Street as a result of religious imposter A.B. Worthington’s "Temple of Truth" fraud. Beginning in 1890, Worthington’s sect had built a ”grecian temple“ in Latimer Square.
September 26, 1945
Charles Hazlett Upham (born Christchurch 1908) awarded second V.C. for gallantry in the Western Desert, 1942. He won his previous award in Crete during May 1941.
September 26, 1968
City Council given partial control of the Estuary.
September 26, 1975
Noahs Hotel opens.
September 26, 1976
Orana Park Wildlife Reserve opens.

Notes