Light up the World through time

Christchurch 1925–2025 12 photos of this spot

12 photographs taken at the same spot in Christchurch, spanning 1925–2025 — 1 of them from before 1980. Line them up and watch the place change.

This photograph, taken in Christchurch, New Zealand, between 1923 and 1928, shows a house and its grounds, including a tennis court.

House and grounds, including tennis court, Christchurch, between 1923 and 1925 This photograph, taken in Christchurch, New Zealand, between 1923 and 1928, shows a house and its grounds, including a tennis court.

View looking south from the Cathedral Tower, Christchurch, NZ 2007 A view looking south from the tower of Christchurch Cathedral, New Zealand, taken years before the February 2011 earthquake severely damaged the tower and much of the cathedral structure. The tower had long offered visitors a panorama over the city center.

Guest House, Christchurch 2009 A guest house in Christchurch, New Zealand, photographed in 2009, prior to the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 that would later reshape much of the city's historic architecture.

Cant Wait to see it Finished! 2013 A construction site in Christchurch, New Zealand, photographed in 2013 during the extended rebuilding of the city centre that followed the destructive 2011 earthquake.

Light up the World 2014 Photographed in Christchurch in 2014, this image comes from a period when the city center, heavily damaged by the 2010-2011 earthquakes, was being revived in part through temporary public art installations.

BNZ Square 002 2016 BNZ Square in central Christchurch, New Zealand, photographed in 2016. The public square sits in the heart of the city that has undergone extensive rebuilding since the 2011 earthquake.

BNZ Square 004 2016 BNZ Square in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2016. The square takes its name from the Bank of New Zealand and lies within the central city area that was extensively rebuilt after the 2011 earthquake.

BNZ Square 003 2016 BNZ Square in Christchurch, photographed in 2016, part of the central city that was extensively rebuilt in the years following the destructive 2011 earthquake.

Chief Post Office, Christchurch 2025 The Chief Post Office building fronts Cathedral Square in Christchurch, New Zealand, one of the city's historic civic buildings; photographed in 2025.

Christchurch Pre-Wikicon sunset photowalk 36 City Mall 2025 City Mall in central Christchurch during a sunset photowalk held ahead of the Wikicon conference in 2025.

Christchurch Pre-Wikicon sunset photowalk 37 hack circle area 2025 A gathering area in central Christchurch known locally as the hack circle, photographed during a 2025 sunset photowalk held ahead of Wikicon.

Christchurch Pre-Wikicon sunset photowalk 35 Stewart Plaza 2025 Stewart Plaza in central Christchurch, photographed during a 2025 sunset photowalk held ahead of the Wikicon conference.