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

September 2, 1885: Public meeting of 25,000 (possibly the country’s biggest to that time) in Hagley Park in support of the proposal to build a railway to the West Coast (the Midland Line).
September 3, 1879: Canterbury Industrial Association formed (now the Canterbury Manufacturers Association).
September 4, 1903: Canterbury Automobile Association formed.
September 5, 1985: French agent Dominique Prieur convicted over the bombing of the Greenpeace ship "Rainbow Warrior", transferred from Mt Eden Jail to Christchurch Womens Prison.
September 5, 1987: Canterbury Rowing Club 125th anniversary - believed to be the oldest sports club in New Zealand. See 1861.
September 5, 1988: Stanley Reid, New Zealand's longest serving prisoner (43 years) dies in Christchurch.
September 6, 1878: Railway to Dunedin officially opens.
September 6, 1980: $9.5 million Icon exhibition opens at Robert McDougall Art Gallery.
September 7, 1850: First Canterbury Association settlers sail from Plymouth, England on the “Charlotte Jane”, “Randolph” and “Cressy”.
September 7, 1863: City’s first murder trial. G. Lumley convicted.
September 8, 1850: “Sir George Seymour” leaves Plymouth with settlers.
September 8, 1890: Striking watersiders attack and injure scab labour.