Sound Archives: The Ballantynes Fire of 1947

Fire at Ballantyne's department store, Christchurch, 18 November 1947. (Alexander Turnbull Library)

Ballantyne's department store fire (Alexander Turnbull Library)

Funeral for the victims of the Ballantyne's Department Store fire, (Alexander Turnbull Library)

The Ballantyne's Fire Memorial rebuilt after 2011 earthquake damage was repaired

Like the earthquakes of 2010-2011, the 1947 fire at Ballantynes department store is a defining tragic event in Christchurch's history. It also had a nationwide impact on the way we fight fires, leading to the creation of a National Fire Service.

This Saturday is the 70th anniversary of the tragedy which saw the loss of 41 lives, and in today's visit to the sound archives of Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision we are going to hear some recordings from people who were there.