Christchurch – this week in history (February 16 to February 23)

February 16, 1770
Captain James Cook in the “Endeavour” sights Banks “Island” (Peninsula).

February 17, 1939
New Millers Department Store building (the former Civic Offices) opens. Designed by G. A. J. Hart, the building contained the South Island’s first escalator.

February 18, 1982
Internationally famous writer Dame Ngaio Marsh dies at her home in Cashmere.

February 19, 1873
Anglican synod decides (by a narrow margin) not to sell the present site of ChristChurch Cathedral.

February 22, 1909
New "Press" building in operation in Cathedral Square. Designed by J.J. Collins and R.D. Harman, it was the city’s first ferro-concrete building.

February 22, 1960
New airport terminal (designed by Paul Pascoe) opens.

Photo of first house on the Canterbury Plains, Riccarton
The first house on the Canterbury Plains, Riccarton [ca. 1890]

Christchurch chronology

A timeline of Christchurch events in chronological order from pre-European times to 1989.