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

April 8, 1865
First issue of ”Punch in Canterbury“. It was modelled on the English magazine, but did not survive for long.
April 8, 1883
First shipment of frozen "Canterbury lamb" leaves Lyttelton for the United Kingdom on the "British King".
April 8, 1959
Billy Graham crusade draws 50,000 to Lancaster Park.
April 9, 1934
Visit by George Bernard Shaw. He gave a nationwide radio broadcast from his civic reception in Christchurch.
April 10-12, 1981
Visit by Prince of Wales.
April 10, 1882
Joubert and Twopenny’s New Zealand International Exhibition opens in South Hagley Park. The exhibition, complete with an educated pig and an armless lady drew a total attendance of over 250,000 until it closed on July 15.
April 10, 1965
Airport becomes New Zealand’s first jet airport with the inauguration of the first regular jet flights from Christchurch to Australia.
April 11, 1968
"Wahine" storm (the city’s worst recorded storm) causes one death and widespread wind and flood damage.
April 11, 1975
Visit by Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister of Singapore.
April 11, 1982
Waimairi becomes a District Council.
April 12, 1840
“Sarah and Elizabeth” lands Herriot, McGillivray, Ellis, Shaw (and wife) and McKinnon (with his wife and child) who try to establish a farm at Riccarton. They are the first European settlers on the plains. (See 1841)
April 12, 1850
John Robert Godley, first leader of the Canterbury Association settlers, arrives with his wife in Lyttelton on “Lady Nugent”. He quarrels with Thomas, and departs for Wellington, not returning until November 28. (It appears that he had no intention of settling permanently in the new colony.)
April 13-14, 1983
Visit of Chinese Premier, Zhao Ziyang.
April 13, 1876
Visit of tightrope walker Blondin.
April 13, 1896
City hosts the first meeting of the National Council of Women.

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