Sets

The carefree days of childhood, from the school playground to the park. In this set, explore a selection of photographs that will take you back to the era of unpadded trampolines, rope bridges, and sandpits. Then fast forward to the present day where the Margaret Mahy Playground combines action with safety.

Where ever you are in Christchurch, the Port Hills are always visible. Once a barrier to human movement, they are now the site of biking trails, walking tracks, scenic drives and other leisure activities. Explore a selection of photographs that cover a range of decades and seasons, from the snow of winter to Spring lambs and sunsets.

Need to know the time? You can never be late in a city full of public clocks. Explore a selection of photographs of prominent clocks in Christchurch. Sadly, some were lost in the earthquakes, but others have thankfully been restored.

The changing landscape of the city as it rebuilds after the Canterbury earthquake sequence.

Rugby was only a newly devised sport when it first arrived in Canterbury, but that did not stop it from becoming a prominent part of the cultural fabric of life in the region. Today, Canterbury is often associated with the iconic team, the Crusaders.

Sheep farming has played an important role in the development of Christchurch and the Canterbury province. Today, one still doesn't need to drive too far outside of the central city before encountering them!

Designed by Samuel Hurst Seager, and built 1916-1917, the Sign of the Kiwi is one of the rest houses constructed as part of Harry Ell’s Summit Road vision. With views of the Canterbury Plains and Christchurch city, the building has remained a popular destination for both tourists and locals.

Built between 1918 and 1948 in the neo-Gothic style, the Sign of the Takahe is the largest of the rest houses constructed as part of Harry Ell's vision of a Summit Road. Explore a selection of photographs of this majestic building from our collection.

From city founders to explorers, Christchurch has a range of historic statutes, some carved locally, others internationally. Explore a selection of photographs depicting the statues that can be found throughout the city.

Following the devastation of the Canterbury earthquakes, we were left with a city of broken buildings and empty spaces. Artists, both local and international, came to Christchurch to turn these disheartening sights into vibrant murals. But street art in Christchurch isn't confined to the post-earthquake recovery period. Explore a selection of photographs from our collection depicting art that has been found throughout the city over the decades.

With two universities and a polytechnic, Canterbury has always drawn students from around the country and across the world. Explore a selection of photographs that showcase the various elements of student life from enrollment to graduation ceremonies.

Barbecues, outdoor concerts, and days at the beach, these are just some of the activities you will find this selection of summertime photographs from our collection.

Some highlights from our collection showing summertime activities around Canterbury.

For many people in Christchurch, the seaside suburb of Sumner offers memories of summer days spent on the beach, climbing Cave Rock, and ice creams. For those who have made it their home, it is a retreat from the bustle of the city. Explore a selection of photographs from our collection that depict life in Sumner.

When the supermarket first opened in Christchurch in 1963 it was a novel concept. Now, they can be found in every suburb throughout the city. Explore a selection of photographs from our collection that depict staff, customers, and managers of supermarket stores, both past and present.

Although the beaches of Christchurch are a source of leisurely activity, a swim in the ocean can also turn deadly for those caught unawares. To prevent drownings, the New Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club, the first in New Zealand, was founded on 14 July 1910. Explore a selection of photographs from our collection that depict members of this club and the others in Christchurch that were subsequently founded to protect beach users.

Te Reo Māori is one of the official languages of New Zealand. Explore a selection of photographs from our collection that depict the study and use of our national taonga.

Do you remember the teddy bears' picnic in Hagley Park? Go on a bear hunt through our collection! How many Santa Bears do you recognise?

Looking back at the 1981 Springbok Tour.

Protests and controversy about South Africa, racism and sport had been around in varying degrees since 1921 but came to a head with the 1981 Springbok Rugby Tour.

The desire to perform for others and be the center of attention is strong for some, while others prefer to stay in the audience.

Carved by Chief Lelooska, the Totem Pole of Friendship was gifted to Christchurch in 1959 by the Oregon Centennial Commission and the Portland Zoological Society in appreciation of the hospitality given to personnel of Operation Deep Freeze. The totem pole originally stood at Little Hagley Park before being relocated to Christchurch International Airport in 1980.

The first railway to open in New Zealand was the line between Christchurch and Ferrymead when the locomotive, Pilgrim, made its initial journey in December 1863. From 1877 to 1990, the railway workshops in Addington were a source of industry and employment for the city. Take a journey through a selection of photographs from the age of steam to electrification.

With the establishment of the Canterbury Tramway Company Limited, from 1880 trams became a means of connecting the city with the outer suburbs. The Christchurch tramway system was discontinued in 1954, but today a tramway circuit, featuring restored trams, allows visitors to tour the centre of the city. Take your own tour through a selection of photographs from our collection.

Victoria Square, originally known as Market Square, was established on land which was once part of the Waitaha pā of Puari. Although it was superseded by the development of Cathedral Square, the square has remained a focal point of the central city. Explore a selection of photographs from our collection that showcase the changes Victoria Square has undergone over the decades.