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A timeline of some Christchurch events in chronological order from 1700s to 1989.
Go to a year between 1700 & 1989
Begin at the beginning 
This week in history
- July 15-21, 1979
- D’oyly Carte Opera Company gives performances.
- July 16, 1852
- Choral classes begin in Lyttelton.
- July 16, 1989
- Death of John Densem, Christchurch designer and musician, who initiated this publication.
- July 17, 1861
- Work begins on the railway to Lyttelton. Preliminary work on the tunnel had begun in January 1860, but the original contractors had withdrawn in November.
- July 17, 1915
- First Canterbury wounded from the war return to Lyttelton on the "Willochra".
- July 17, 1964
- Opening of the Government Life Building in Cathedral Square. It was the city’s first "high rise glass box". The building’s rooftop clock and temperature readings have become a familiar part of the Square.
- July 17, 1979
- Visit by Princess Anne.
- July 18, 1853
- First meeting of the Christchurch Horticultural, Agricultural and Botanical Society.
- July 18, 1903
- Heavy snow in Canterbury.
- July 18, 1945
- Christchurch’s lowest recorded temperature -7.1 deg C. Note that this is air temperature which is recorded above ground level. Frost readings are taken on the ground and can be several degrees colder than the air temperature. Record frost was in 1872.
- July 19, 1880
- Lincoln College opens - the first agricultural college in the Southern Hemisphere.
- July 19, 1924
- New Zealand Miniature Rifle Association (now Smallbore Rifle Association) formed in Christchurch.
- July 19, 1965
- City Council grants charter to HMNZS "Pegasus".
- July 19, 1982
- City Council approves further extension of airport runway by 845 metres.
- July 19, 1988
- Jock Orr, nicknamed "The Birdman" after befriending birds in Cathedral Square, dies in Christchurch.
- July 20, 1851
- First church in Christchurch opened - later dedicated as St Michael and All Angels in 1859.
- July 20, 1853
- J.E. FitzGerald elected first Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury.
- July 20, 1935
- 1st concert by violinist Yehudi Menuhin (already famous at only 17).
- July 20, 1983
- Record Ranfurly Shield rugby score - Canterbury defeats North Otago 88-0 at Lancaster Park.
- July 21, 1987
- St Michaels Church Day School - 136th anniversary.
