Christchurch Chronology 1981 - Heritage - Christchurch City Libraries

1981

February 16: Seattle (Washington, USA), becomes sister city.
February 28: Visit by Mme Simone Veil, President of European Parliament.
March 28: New South Brighton bridge opens.
April 10-12: Visit by Prince of Wales.
April 25: New $16 million postal centre in Hereford Street in operation. A determined fight by civic groups had failed to prevent its siting next to the old Public Library.
April: Death in Christchurch of Mrs Agnes Lucy Whitworth, aged 108.
May 4: New southern arterial (Brougham Street to Curletts Road) opens.
May 8: Go-ahead given for National Sports Training Centre at Q.E.II Park.
June 24: First Metro Refuse transfer station (Sockburn) in operation.
August 15: Massive demonstrations in Christchurch against rugby test between All Blacks and Springboks. See our Springbok Tour online posters collection.
October 12-14: Visit by Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.
October: Private developer begins transformation of the old Normal School into residential apartments, ending the city’s most protracted preservation battle.
December 10: Government announces its intention to preserve the Chief Post Office in Cathedral Square.