Lyttelton 1982 & 2007

Two pairs of views of Oxford Street, Lyttelton from early February, 1982 and November, 2007.

Taken from adjacent locations at the intersection with Exeter Street, the upper pair of images depict a north-easterly view of lower Oxford Street, with the lower views depicting a southerly aspect of the upper levels of the street.

Although there are few structural changes in the ensuing 25 years, the ubiquitous change of house colours is probably symptomatic of the progressive gentrification of the town as a trendy suburb of the close by provincial capital of Christchurch. But the real change is in the tripling of the number of motor vehicles to be seen in the images.

Oxford Street was the nascent town's first principal thoroughfare. Original location of the seat of the government of the province, it was also the site of the township's first school, town hall, post office, prison and hotel, etc.

Thanks to Gerard Richards of Auckland for the 1982 photographs.