Ballantyne's fire
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On Tuesday, 18 November 1947, a fire engulfed the Ballantynes department store in central Christchurch, New Zealand, resulting in the death of 41 people. It remains the deadliest fire in New Zealand's history.
Firefighters battling the blaze
Ballantynes Fire as seen from the tower of ChristChurch Cathedral
Ballantyne Memorial Rose Garden at Ruru Lawn Cemetery
Funeral for the victims of the Ballantyne's Department Store fire
Colombo Street
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Colombo Street is a main road of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. It runs south-north through the centre of Christchurch with a break at Cathedral Square. As with many other central Christchurch streets, it is named for a colonial Anglican bishopric, Colombo, Sri Lanka in what at the time was known as Ceylon. Parts of the street which run through Sydenham were known as Addison Street during the 1880s, and some parts were known as Colombo Road.
Colombo Street (left to right) at Hereford Street
Former shops in Colombo Street, Sydenham; all demolished since the earthquakes
Colombo Street in 1960 looking south, with the tower of ChristChurch Cathedral visible in Cathedral Square
Aerial view of Cathedral Square showing the curved alignment of Colombo Street (pre-1954)