Local History
Explore local history - the people and places of Ōtautahi.
Featured events
Drawing connections: Exploring Cecil Wood's architecture, part of a series
Apr 27th, All day
An exhibition using the architectural drawings of Cecil Wood to explore the cultural and historical context of Ōtautahi's built environment.
Tūranga - Who's been sleeping in my house? FULLY BOOKED
May 8th | 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Ever wondered about the people who once lived under the same roof as you? Who were they, what did they do? Free, 2-hour session.
Beginner's Guide to Local History (6 week course) @ Tūranga, part of a series
May 16th | 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Learning about the history of Ōtautahi Christchurch with our Local History librarians. Cost: $16.43, including booking fee.
1974 Commonwealth Games
Xth British Commonwealth Games 1974
The 1974 Commonwealth Games were known as the Friendly Games. They took place in Christchurch from 24 January to 2 February 1974.
So Many Stories: 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games: Pt 1
Hear from the folks who made the 1974 Commonwealth Games happen, from security guards to drivers, to committee members and media.
So Many Stories: 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games: Pt 2
A special episode includes memories from athletes, organisers and staff who were central to the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch.
Featured
Tī Kōuka Whenua
Explore the vibrant past of Christchurch and the wider Canterbury region that extends back many hundreds of years before 1850.
Ancestry Library Edition
Trace your family history. Includes records from U.S., U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Only available in libraries.
From the CCC Archives
Annabel the Archivist reports on the latest digitised additions from the CCC Archives.
Canterbury Stories
Online collections from our digitised archives, publications, & photographs. Includes Photo Hunt images, exhibitions, image sets, & more.
Popular resources
Popular resources
Poster collection: Rock music
Local band posters digitised from the libraries' ephemera collection.
He Kohinga Pūranga / Archives
Located on Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2 of Tūranga the Archives are a rich collection of primary sources on the city’s history.
Digital maps
This is a collection of digital images of historical maps. The maps focus mostly on Christchurch and Canterbury.
Interpretation board for Anzac horses: Picturing Canterbury
Interpretation board detailing the history of horses that served in the South African and First World Wars. An image from Canterbury Stories
Clearing leaves: Picturing Canterbury
Council worker, Wally Clark, clearing leaves, 4 May 1984. An image from Canterbury Stories.
Aranda Coffee Lounge employees: Picturing Canterbury
Three women standing outside Aranda Coffee Lounge in Hornby Mall. 1980s. An image from Canterbury Stories.
Shirt Tales: Picturing Canterbury
Children with Tyg Tiger and Digger Mole from Shirt Tales at Hornby Mall. Possibly 1986. An image from Canterbury Stories.
Discover Canterbury: Commemorating the Bridge of Remembrance
A look at the history of Christchurch icon, the Bridge of Remembrance including photographs and architectural drawings.
Discover Canterbury: Sign of the Takahe
Learn more about the history of this iconic Port Hills building through digitised resources like photographs and architectural drawings.
Discover Canterbury: Recent additions
Take a look at some of the new (but old) treasures recently digitised and added to Canterbury Stories.
QUIZ: An Aotearoa/ New Zealand autumn
Test yourself with questions about March, April, May and autumn in general.
QUIZ: What's in a name?
What's in a name? Quite a lot! Explore interesting and unusual facts about placenames in Canterbury and test your knowledge.
QUIZ: A Christchurch summertime
Explore interesting and unusual facts about summers past and present in Canterbury!
QUIZ: Xth British Commonwealth Games, 1974
How much do you remember about the 1974 Commonwealth Games? Test your sporting knowledge with our online quiz.
