John Ballantyne (1825 – 1899)

John Ballantyne (1825 – 1899)    Died of old age     Place of Death: Christchurch * Brought ‘The Dunstable House’ from William Pratt in 1872.  This business is now known as Ballantynes. Story of Ballantynes: http://www.peelingbackhistory.co.nz/ballantynes/ John is buried at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Church Corner, Upper Riccarton,Christchurch. Photo taken by Annette Bulovic

PEERSWICK – the forgotten past of Church Corner.

At Church Corner, at the western end of Riccarton Road, opposite Countdown are a series of shops and arcades.  Long past their prime and popularity, one arcade there especially doesn’t fit in and that would be the Peerswick Mall.  This very British sounding collection of shops is now the hub of Christchurch’s Asian shopping market, …

Donald Fraser (1892 – 1933)

Donald Fraser (1892 – 1933)      Murdered       Place of Death: Christchurch * Murdered manager of The Riccarton Racecourse Hotel Buried at the St Peter’s Anglican Cemetery, Church Corner, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch. The story of The Riccarton Racecourse Hotel: http://www.peelingbackhistory.co.nz/murder-at-riccarton-hotel/ Photo taken by Annette Bulovic

Henry Francis Wigram (1857 – 1934)

Henry Francis Wigram (1857 – 1934)        Died of old age     Place of Death: Christchurch * The Father of Aviation in New Zealand. Buried at the St Peter’s Anglican Cemetery, Church Corner, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch. The story of Henry Francis Wigram: http://www.peelingbackhistory.co.nz/wigram-henry-francis-wigram-1857-1934/ Photo taken by Annette Bulovic

The Bush Inn Tavern

The racket and stink of hundreds of livestock rambling down Yaldhurst Road would make those who lived close by stay inside!  Cattle, sheep, and even pigs headed down to the Addington Stockyards on Deans Ave like this for decades – causing such a trying time for residents that the Riccarton Road Board was formed mainly …

DIAMOND HARBOUR – Mark Pringle Stoddard (1819 – 1885)

Charlotte Godley (wife of Christchurch’s founder John Robert Godley) didn’t miss a thing.  During her short time in New Zealand, she observed and met some of the very early colourful characters of Canterbury.  None escaped the fury of her pen when she wrote letters home to her mother in England. Mr. Mark Pringle Stoddard was …

RUSSLEY – William Chisnall 1827 – 1876

William Chisnall and his wife Sarah (some records say Steadman) arrived in Lyttelton a few months before the First Four Ships.  As William was a carpenter, he had been employed by the Canterbury Association to help ready the Port for the new settlers. Aboard the ‘Randolph’ was William Derisley (W.D) Wood, Chisnall’s brother-in-law.  Together in …