In 1908, the Colosseum Picture Theatre opened, delighting Cantabs with silent movies. It was Christchurch’s first movie house. Situated in a building known as the ‘Colosseum’ (built 1888), this structure was demolished in 1929 to make way for a new 40 shop complex still known as New Regent Street. By 1917, the movie theatre had …
In 1908, as part of a sudden worldwide movement, Kaiapoi was the first township in New Zealand to form a ‘Boy Scout Patrol’. The Scouts are now New Zealand’s largest youth organisation catering for both sexes, from the ages of 1 to 26 years old. Founded by English soldier, Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell (B.P. for …
In 1908, 10 years after first appearing in a newspaper advertisement, Hackthorne Road was listed in the Christchurch street directory. It is believed to be Christchurch’s steepest road. Although unconfirmed, it most likely began as a simple farm track and was named by the Cracroft Wilson family who established Cashmere Farm (the southern boundary once …
