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A timeline of some Christchurch events in chronological order from 1700s to 1989.
Go to a year between 1700 & 1989
Begin at the beginning 
This week in history
- May 3, 1851
- George Gould opens shop in Christchurch. The business eventually became part of Pyne Gould Guinness and Co.
- May 3, 1865
- First Catholic school opens in a small cottage in Lichfield Street.
- May 3, 1985
- 6,000 Christchurch citizens rally against the All Black tour of South Africa.
- May 4, 1858
- Last of the town reserves sold.
- May 4, 1932
- Christchurch Tramway strike. One of the bitterest in the city’s history, it lasted 16 days. There were many injuries and arrests among the strikers. The tram sheds were barricaded with barbed wire, and trams were fitted with wire mesh screens over their windows to ward off attacks.
- May 4, 1981
- New southern arterial (Brougham Street to Curletts Road) opens.
- May 5, 1863
- Christchurch Gas Company formed.
- May 5, 1970
- Visit by Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau.
- May 6, 1939
- New Municipal Electricity Department building opens.
- May 7, 1917
- Canterbury Aviation Company makes first flights from Sockburn Aerodrome, New Zealand’s first airport.
- May 8, 1885
- Strike in boot factories.
- May 8, 1945
- V.E. (Victory in Europe) day celebrations.
- May 8, 1975
- New Zealand’s first mini roundabout in operation at the corner of Riccarton Road and Deans Avenue.
- May 8, 1981
- Go-ahead given for National Sports Training Centre at Q.E.II Park.
- May 8, 1987
- Sir Neil Isaac, founder of Peacock Springs Conservation Park dies.
- May 9, 1915
- Christchurch tennis star (4 times Wimbledon champion) Captain A. F. Wilding killed in action in Belgium.
