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

January 18, 1851
First bank, the Union Bank of Australia, opens at Lyttelton.
January 18, 1877
First meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board.
January 18, 1894
New Brighton pier opens.
January 18, 1974
Ramada Inn (now Vacation Hotel) opens.
January 19-21, 1935
Visit by the Duke of Gloucester.
January 19-22, 1954
Visit by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh (the first New Zealand visit by a reigning monarch).
January 19, 1935
River carnival on the Avon near Park Terrace.
January 19, 1983
Tornado and hailstorm strike western City. Damage severe at Halswell.
January 20, 1882
First drainage pumping station in operation. This was the beginning of New Zealand’s first sewage farm.
January 21, 1906
Hailstorm causes widespread damage.
January 21, 1951
New Zealand’s worst yachting disaster. 10 people lost when 2 yachts "Husky" and "Argo" sink in a storm during the Wellington to Christchurch centennial race. Only one of the 22 starters finished the course.
January 22, 1903
Christchurch Tramway Board (now the Christchurch Transport Board) holds its first meeting.
January 22, 1929
Death of Professor Bickerton in England. Since his sacking by the university - see 1902 - he had operated the extraordinary Pleasure Gardens at Wainoni, made fireworks, promoted patent medicines and then travelled to England to promote his "partial impact" astronomical theory.
January 24, 1865
Steam fire engine arrives, (the first in New Zealand) and is named ”Extinguisher“.
January 24, 1941
Civic reception for playwright/composer Noel Coward.
January 24, 1974
10th Commonwealth Games open at Queen Elizabeth II Park, one of the greatest sporting events in New Zealand’s history. Visitors include the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and Princess Anne. Highlight of the opening ceremony was the New Zealand Army Band’s spectacular novelty marching routine. Seen on international live TV, the idea was soon copied by bandsmen throughout the Commonwealth.

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