This week in Christchurch history (12 to 18 October)

12 October 1939
Battery point guns in Lyttelton Harbour accidentally sink fishing boat “Dolphin”. 1 man killed.

13 October 1986
Sir Hamish Hay begins his fifth and final term as Mayor of Christchurch.

14 October 1989
Vicki Buck, first woman and youngest to be elected, wins Christchurch Mayoralty.

15 October 1881
Lancaster Park opens. This privately owned development was built so that sports clubs could charge admission fees to games.

Photo of spectators leaving Lancaster Park after the second test match between New South Wales and New Zealand, 1 Sept. 1923 
Some of the 13,000 spectators leaving Lancaster Park after the second test match between New South Wales and New Zealand, 1 Sept. 1923, CCL PhotoCD 8, IMG0076

16 October 1988
Victoria Square Amphitheatre opens.

17 October 1861
Christchurch Club building opens. Designed by B. W. Mountfort and Isaac Luck, it was probably New Zealand’s first club.

More October events in the Christchurch chronology: a timeline of Christchurch events in chronological order from pre-European times to 1989.

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