The Pegasus Arms

As a Management Committee member for the Canterbury Association, I’m sure Henry Le Cren felt a sense of achievement as he made his way down the jetty from the ‘Barbara Gordon” with all his worldly belongings. His cousin John Longden was with him – what an adventure to be in Canterbury, especially with the first …

New Zealand’s First Iron and Stone Bridge Built To Last – 28th September 1865

The Papanui Bridge, and Papanui Road for that matter, were very important in the first few years of the settlement of Christchurch. It was where timber from the Papanui Bush (now the site of the Papanui Domain on Sawyers Arms Road) was brought into the city via drays to be sold at Market Square (Victoria …

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 …