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

April 15, 1971
Christchurch production of Jenny Mcleod’s "Earth and Sky" in Civic Theatre.
April 16, 1851
First sale of Christchurch town sections.
April 16, 1867
First traction engine imported into Canterbury by the Provincial Government. It was hoped to pull ”road trains“ of grain shipments, but trials were a failure.
April 16, 1974
Flooding throughout city after record rainfall - 124mm (4.89 inches) in 24 hours.
April 17, 1854
Formation of the Canterbury Local Steam Navigation Co.
April 17, 1880
First championship cycle meeting, Hagley Park.
April 17, 1880
Inter-city brass band contest (New Zealand’s first) and choral competition draws an audience of 2500 to the Drill Hall. The winner was the Invercargill Garrison Band.
April 17, 1983
Visit of Dr. Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury.
April 18, 1864
First Ferrymead (swing) bridge opens.
April 19, 1873
Christchurch Golf Club formed. The first course was in Hagley Park. There are now nearly 30 golf courses in and around Christchurch, making it New Zealand’s golfing capital.
April 19, 1988
Proposal for 152 metre tower in Victoria Square abandoned after much public debate.
April 20, 1849
Captain Thomas (in a letter to Sir George Grey) reveals that he has chosen the present site of Christchurch for the new settlement - in spite of the fact that both the Nelson and Otago colonists had rejected it in 1841 and 1844 respectively.
April 20, 1938
First Inter-Dominion trotting in New Zealand held at Addington Raceway. Originally scheduled for Easter, the contest was postponed by flooding throughout the city. Further flooding after the first races delayed the finals until May 4.

Notes