Christchurch: A Chronology to 1989

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

Go to a year between 1700 & 1989

May 14-15, 1886: Flooding in city centre.
May 14, 1868: "Lyttelton Times" publishes evening paper, the "Star".
May 14, 1907: Fire seriously damages the Antigua Street boatsheds.
May 14, 1908: Municipal tepid baths in Manchester Street open. It was described as "the finest indoor swimming pool in Australasia".
May 14, 1947: Mabel Howard (Sydenham) becomes Minister of Health, the country’s first woman Cabinet Minister.
May 16, 1904: Motor bus service to Timaru begins.
May 16, 1975: Opening of Four Avenues, New Zealand’s first State alternative education school.
May 18, 1881: Christchurch Boys High School (designed by W.B. Armson) opens in Worcester Street. The school moved to the present Straven Road site in 1926, and the old building is now part of the Arts Centre.
May 18, 1940: Harewood Airport officially opens. It was soon to be taken over by the RNZAF for the duration of the war.
May 19, 1910: Halleys Comet visible by telescope in night sky. Prophesies of doom and superstition abounded while the comet was visible.
May 19, 1945: Severe flooding throughout city.
May 20, 1861: Gold discovered in Gabriels Gully, Otago. As with other discoveries, the ensuing gold rush depleted the city of its more adventurous young men.