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New Zealand’s First Department Store Opened – 1854
In 1920, New Zealand’s first department store – that had been in the ownership of the Ballantyne family since 1872 – was formed into a company named J.Ballantyne and Co. It was 1854 when Esther Clarkson, her husband David and sister-in-law Elizabeth arrived in Christchurch. They settled in a small cottage on Cashel Street and …
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Canterbury’s First Superintendent Elected – 20th July 1853
When the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 was established, New Zealand was split up into six provinces. Each province was its own sub-government and these were built around the six original settlements. The Canterbury Province sat between the Hurunui and Waitaki Rivers and stretched right over to the West Coast. At the head was a …
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Market Place Held Its First Organised Market – 21st May 1853
On 21st May 1853, Market Place, now known as Victoria Square held its first market. As Canterbury Association’s surveyors, Captain Joseph Thomas and Edward Jollie marked out the area that would be Christchurch’s market place, they showed the most amazing ability to look up over the sea of tussock and see what would be. Christchurch …
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South Canterbury’s Oldest Building Was Built – 1853
In 1853, after eight years living at Purau, Bank Peninsula and two years at the future site of Timaru, George Rhodes moved his family to the ‘Levels’ and constructed South Canterbury’s oldest building. The Rhodes and Waitaha (Canterbury) were first introduced in 1836 when the whaling Captain from the ‘Australian’ climbed the Port Hills and …
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