On 22 January 1929, controversial Christchurch Professor Alexander William Bickerton died while on a tour in England. He was the first chemistry teacher at the Canterbury University. The prize student of his career was Ernest Rutherford. Sacked from the University in 1903 after 29 years for mismanaging his department, it is believed this was a …
On 11 September 1928, a Fokker F.VIIb/3m trimotor monoplane known as the ‘Southern Cross’ landed at Wigram Airfields after completing the first ever nonstop trans Tasman flight. Flown by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, this was not the first record for either the pilot or the plane. On 9 June 1928, the ‘Southern Cross’ had landed …
Ever since the Nurses’ Memorial Chapel was opened for its first service on Christmas Day 1927, the little church has been a safe haven for Christchurch Hospital staff, patients and visitors. From the numerous pillars, plaques, carvings and stained-glass windows, the bravest of Canterbury’s pioneering nurses are all acknowledged in the world’s first War Memorial …
In December 1926, an area by the Avon, near the corner of Barbadoes Street and Oxford Terrace – known as ‘The Bricks’ – is acknowledged by the unveiling of a brick cairn. Named ‘The Bricks’ by the Deans Brothers in 1843 – it was here that they left the bricks for their chimney on the …
On 19th September 1926, in the Harman’s Grove of North Hagley Park, the Bandsmen’s Memorial Rotunda was officially opened by the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes. This project was so close to the heart of Rhodes – who had served in WWI as a Colonel – that he had also lead the stone laying ceremony …
On 7 March 1925, in the memory of Margaret Cholmondeley, the Cholmondeley Children’s Home was opened in Governor’s Bay. Hugh Cholmondeley and his beloved Mary – as Margaret was called – had been unable to have children of their own but both were extremely fond of children. When Mary died, Hugh made the decision to …
On 11 November 1924, the Bridge of Remembrance was unveiled. It had been a strong public opinion that a war memorial was needed in the city of Christchurch. The C.C.C. released a competition amongst the city’s designers and the winning design was begun on 23 January 1923. As Christchurch, along with the rest of world, …
On 4th August 1924, an oak grown from an acorn sent home to Christchurch from Gallipoli (the birthplace of the ANZACS) was planted beside the Bridge of Remembrance by his Honour (Mayor) J.A. Flesher. Lt. Douglas Deans – from the early pioneering family and a soldier with the Canterbury Mounted Rifles – enlisted at the …
On 8th October 1923, in close relationship with the Canterbury Historical Association, the ‘Canterbury Pilgrims Association’ was formed. This was founded ‘…to perpetuate a feeling of veneration for the early pioneers and promote social, literary and historical interest…’ Unlike the early Canterbury Historical Associations ‘in your face’ approach to keeping Canterbury’s history alive-and-well with the …
On 1 April 1923, Papanui joined the Greater Christchurch and came under the care of the C.C.C. The Maori word ‘Papanui’ has two different meanings, no one knows for certain which one is correct as both seem to relate to the history of this area of Christchurch. Along with Riccarton Bush, there was also the …
