Sets

As a city built around the environs of the Avon River and Heathcote River, bridges are a common feature in Christchurch. As the city developed and the use of motor vehicles increased, many of the city's earliest bridges were replaced with those of modern designs. Some, however, have managed to survive, and contribute to the heritage of Christchurch.

When the use of electric trams was discontinued in 1954, buses became the main form of public transport for residents in Christchurch. The style of buses has changed over the decades, but they remain an everyday sight on the city streets of Christchurch. As well as serving suburban routes, they are also used to venture further afield, transporting commuters to and from the Selwyn and Waimakariri districts.

Christchurch and the wider Canterbury region are home to numerous camping grounds. The Christmas-New Year period has traditionally been a time when families leave the stress of work and the comforts of home behind to camp at the beach or river. From campgrounds situated within the city, to further afield, explore this New Zealand holiday tradition.

It has been 10 years since we were rocked by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake at 4.35am on the 4th of September 2010. This began a sequence of further earthquakes and aftershocks that changed our lives and the landscape we live in forever.

Explore our collection of aerial views of Christchurch taken throughout the decades and see how the city has changed. Can you find your house?

Situated on the banks of the River Avon between Armagh, Gloucester and Durham Streets. They were designed by architect Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort, and built in timber and stone in the Gothic Revival style. The foundation stone was laid on 6 January 1858.

New Zealand has one of the highest car ownership rates in the world. Cantabrians certainly like their cars with driving a private vehicle the most popular way to travel which leads to much congestion and trying to find a park.

Cathedral Square is not, in fact, a square but a cross. It became central to coming to town as shops and roads developed and also became the central point for public transport. Many lively events were held there over the years from official organised events to buskers and those on their soapbox.

Cats are a popular pet for the people of Christchurch with 45% of households owning at least one. Explore this set to see some cats from our collection that are dressed up, on show, being rescued or just hanging out.

Parties, holidays, festivals or just a day at the beach, there are many ways that we can celebrate summer! Which is your favourite?

War victories, centenaries, sport, and Christmas; these are just some of the reasons the people of Christchurch have celebrated, both in their homes and in public, by holding parades and parties.

The streetscape of central Christchurch has changed over the centuries, from wooden cottages to high rise buildings. However, the predictability of the original grid layout designed by colonial planners has been somewhat altered by the post-earthquake recovery work.

As cheques are being phased out, take a look back at the times when being handed a cheque was GOLDEN.

Visits to Santa, playground games, carnivals and building snowmen; the life of children in Christchurch and Canterbury has never been dull. Explore a selection from our collection that showcases the activities of childhood throughout the decades. You might find your younger self included!

7 July is World Chocolate Day.

The Christchurch Town Hall was designed by the firm Warren and Mahoney and completed in 1972.

The Citizens’ War Memorial immediately north of the ChristChurch Cathedral, was unveiled on 9 June 1937 by Colonel S. C. P. Nicholls during a service conducted by Archbishop Julius.

The figures were first modelled in clay by the Christchurch sculptor William Trethewey, and afterwards reproduced in plaster. The moulds were forwarded to England where they were cast in bronze by A. B. Burton.

This set has gathered some images of our coast to sit alongside the collection of images for the CoastSnap initiative in Ōtautahi Christchurch. CoastSnap is a global citizen science project to capture our changing coastlines. It aims to track how the coast is changing over time due to processes such as storms, rising sea levels, human activities and other factors.

A slideshow highlighting past times on the East side.

The first cricket match in Christchurch, intended to be held on 4 October 1851, was postponed due to bad weather. That didn't stop the game from becoming an integral part of Canterbury's sporting life. From Hagley Oval and suburban parks to our own backyards, explore the many matches that have been played throughout the history of the city.

The flat, straight roads of Christchurch have made it an ideal city to get around by bicycle. Cycling has been been both a form of transport and exercise for the people of Canterbury for well over a century. A magazine dedicated to cycling, the New Zealand Wheelman, was published in Christchurch between 1892 and 1902.

View a selection of dancers from the 1950s to 1960s.

31% of households in Christchurch own a dog. Here are a selection from our collection wearing lifejackets, hanging out and guarding their properties.

Explore a variety of housing types throughout the different periods of Christchurch's history, from practical to extravagant. Does your house feature in the selection?