The Olliviers

It was late 1853 when the Ollivier family stepped off the ‘John Taylor’ to seize all the opportunities that were on offer in Canterbury and that they did, for generations to come. John Ollivier, the head of the family, was a publisher by trade.  After receiving the best education in France, the British born teenager …

Addington Raceway Opened – 1899

In 1899, the land (once potato fields) that Addington Raceway would call home was secured by lease from the city’s Sunnyside Hospital. The man behind the deal was Christchurch’s 15th Mayor, the Honourable Charles Louisson. Working on the behalf of The Metropolitan Trotting Club – who had been using Lancaster Park – they were finally …