Story: Government and agriculture

Opening of the first railway

Opening of the first railway

In 1863 the Canterbury Provincial Council built the first railway in New Zealand. This illustration is of the opening, on 1 December 1863, of the line between Christchurch and Ferrymead. In 1867 the line was extended to the port of Lyttelton.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PUBL-0033-1864-241
Wood engraving by R. S. Kelly

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Tony Nightingale, 'Government and agriculture - Land purchase and early farming regulations, 1840–1876', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/18048/opening-of-the-first-railway (accessed 28 September 2023)

Story by Tony Nightingale, published 24 Nov 2008