This site was created for and is maintained by the Canterbury Branch of the NZHPT

Historic Places Trust

Our New Land

Canterbury Museum 1949.86.2

Part of the Great Plain. PUBL-194-014

Landing from the
Sir George Seymour
The Great Plain of the
Canterbury Settlement

The first Canterbury Association settlers stepped ashore at Port Victoria, a new home which would not officially be called Port Lyttelton until 1858, in honour of Lord Lyttelton, chairman of the Canterbury Association.

Facing Challenges - After months at sea it made sense to many to try and begin to build their new lives as quickly as possible, to climb the Bridlepath, choose and settle on land, build a new home and face the challenges of building a new colony.

However, in the first few days and weeks everyday life was often focused on survival and the basics of life: food, shelter, weather and staying alive.

See also >>

Our new land |  FoodShelterStormy weatherBridle PathA place to settleGeorgiana’s letter