In 1975, the First Four Ships Court was unveiled in the South West corner of Cathedral Square. Around four separate ceremony trees and gardens are numerous plaques not only listing the names of our first Canterbury Association settlers but also information on the First Four Ships (Charlotte Jane, Randolph, Sir George Seymour and the Cressy) …
On 26 October 1974, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve opened its gates. Set on 18 hectares, today it houses roughly 500 animals from 50 different species. Willowbank combines the conservation of our native New Zealand fauna with an active appreciation of Canterbury’s natural heritage and pre-European history. Opened as a passionate project by the Willis Family, the …
On 24 January 1974, the 10th British Commonwealth Games opened in grand style in Christchurch. It took place in the purposely built QEII Stadium – the most modern of its type in the world at the time. 1276 competitors took part – 145 of those being New Zealanders. New Zealand won 9 gold, 8 silver …
It must have been quite a day for Sir Hamish Grenfell Hay when he turned up on his first day at work for his father’s iconic Christchurch business – Hays Department Store. He had only been out of school (St Andrew’s College) a few years but he had since become a qualified accountant. When he …
On 30th September 1972, as part of the opening ceremony of the Christchurch Town Hall, the invited and excited party goers gathered around to witness the switching on of the ‘Ferrier Fountain’. Christchurch businessman and donator, Jack Ferrier waited close by to do the honours and once the crowd grew quiet, he went ahead and …
On 30 September 1972, almost 100 years since the city’s last town hall was destroyed by fire, Christchurch’s 3rd Town Hall was opened. The site was chosen on the 9th October 1962 after locations on Hereford Street and Latimer Square were rejected. It had been the plan that the Christchurch City Council’s civic offices were …
On 11 April 1968, Christchurch is damaged by strong winds and flooding from what would soon be called the ‘Wahine Storm’. Tragically, this storm claims one life. Just two days earlier, the ‘Wahine’ left Lyttelton carrying 610 passengers and 125 crew members. Totally unaware of the two storms bearing down on New Zealand, the ‘Wahine’ …
Near the corner of Main North and Prestons Roads, stands a 29.8m tall Sequoia (sequiodendron giganteum) in silent testimony of one of the area’s first families. Thomas Herbert Preston and his wife Elizabeth arrived aboard the ‘Cornwall’, the 18th Canterbury Association ship. They settled down in an area known as the ‘Styx’ – this term …
On 27th February 1964, the Lyttelton Road Tunnel opened. It was and has remained New Zealand’s longest road tunnel at 1.9km. From the beginning of the Canterbury settlement, easier access between Port Lyttelton and Christchurch was a constant topic at the Canterbury Provincial Chambers. The Bridle Path was only ever to be temporary route as …
Middleton Grange School, New Zealand’s largest evangelical Christian School, situated in Upper Riccarton, opened on 4th February 1964. It began as a completely independent Christian school with just 64 students and 4 teachers. In 1996, the school was integrated into the state system with over 1300 students, ranging from Year 1 to Year 13. …
