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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 13, 1905
- Construction of King Edward barracks begins. The building was completed in an amazing 25 days. In the absence of a true Town Hall, it was often the venue for large concerts and civic occasions.
- July 13, 1945
- Severe gales with gusts to 145 kilometres per hour (90 miles per hour).
- July 14, 1945
- Record snowfall 280mm (11 inches) over most of city.
- 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 Preliminary work on the tunnel had begun in January 1860, but the original contractors had withdrawn in November.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.
