Heritage

Christchurch: a chronology

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

Go to a year between 1700 & 1989

Begin at the beginning Start here

This week in history

February 12-14, 1958
Visit by Queen Mother.
February 12, 1905
Catholic Cathedral (the Basilica) opens. Designed by F.W. Petre, it is widely regarded as the finest Renaissance building in New Zealand.
February 13, 1951
Waterfront strike begins, with all New Zealand ports idle by February 19. As in previous strikes, Lyttelton avoided the worst of the violence and confrontations which occurred in other ports.
February 14, 1887
Telephone link to Dunedin opens.
February 14, 1929
Christchurch - Lyttelton railway line electrification completed.
February 14, 1987
Visit by Queen Margarethe of Denmark.
February 15, 1840
Chiefs Tairoa, Tuhawaiki and Karetai “sell the South Island” to John Jones and W.C.Wentworth for £500.
February 15, 1894
First New Zealand cricket team defeated by New South Wales at Lancaster Park.
February 15, 1921
Radio Society of Christchurch formed.
February 15, 1967
Waltham Lido Pool opens.
February 15, 1976
25,000 attend concert by pop singer Neil Diamond at Q.E.II Park.
February 16-17, 1963
Visit by the Queen and Duke of Edinbugh. The New Brighton trotting course was bought by the City and re-named Queen Elizabeth Park in her honour.
February 16, 1770
Captain James Cook in the “Endeavour” sights Banks “Island” (Peninsula).
February 16, 1883
Belfast Freezing Works (the first in the Christchurch area) begin operation.
February 16, 1935
First test match by New Zealand women cricketers played against England at Lancaster Park. (England won.)
February 16, 1981
Seattle (Washington, USA), becomes sister city.
February 16, 1988
Mr William Burton, the last surviving member of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's "Terra Nova" expedition of 1910-1913, dies in Christchurch, aged 99. See 1910.
February 16, 1989
Visit by Queen Silvia and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden.
February 17, 1908
30-metre whale stranded at Okarito. The skeleton is now on display at the Canterbury Museum.
February 17, 1939
New Millers Department Store building (now the Civic Offices) opens. Designed by G. A. J. Hart, the building contained the South Island’s first escalator.
February 18, 1982
Internationally famous writer Dame Ngaio Marsh dies at her home in Cashmere.

Related