This history contains newspaper clippings, photos and information dating back 100 years on the boat sheds.

In 1882 two boat builders of Lyttelton, Messrs Albert Shaw and J. T. Tidd, erected the large boat sheds, 27 by 9 metres near the Antigua Street bridge.

An illustrated guide to Christchurch, published in 1885, in a brief paragraph highlights the facilities for the boating offered there: "The sheds are the most complete in the colony. They have a landing stage with a frontage of 200 feet to the river, ladies' waiting room, and gentlemen's dressing room, and besides all these easily house the 38 boats, accommodating from one to 15 persons each, the 16 canoes double and single, and 250 pairs of sculls and oars..."

In 1887 Mr. Shaw became sole proprietor of the Antigua Boat Sheds, having dissolved partnership with Tidd.

The Boat Sheds were taken over by Samuel Anstey of Fendalton in November 1896.

In The Press of 1902 and 1903, Anstey advertised that he had "70 well-built boats to choose from" and also a "photographic room for the use of visitors".

Scores of his glass plate negatives remained in an attic above the Boat Sheds until a few years ago, when they were transferred to the Canterbury Public Library.

Fire broke out in the Antigua Boat Sheds at about 6 a.m. on 14 may 1907. It had a good hold when the fire brigade arrived, and already the roof on the eastern end of the sheds was falling in. Only about half the building and half of the 70 or so boats it contained were saved. In the sheds there was a stove above which timber for making boats was steamed, and it was thought at the time that it was there that the fire had originated.

At this time there were already boat sheds in existence on the Cambridge Terrace side of the Avon river, just below the Montreal Street bridge. Their proprietor was Mr. W. Aitken who had erected them in 1875.

This was after having been granted permission to do so by the City Council, on condition that he paid a ground rent of £5 per annum and was not to charge more than a shilling an hour for use of his boats.

A devastating fire, lit by two incendiarists completely destroyed the Montreal Street boat sheds on the 3rd of August, 1929.

From that time onwards, the only boat sheds within easy reach of the Botanic Gardens have been those at Antigua Street. Their proprietor for the 30 years (1948-78) was the late W. S. Din, about whom it has been said there was a touch of the Mediterranean boatman.

To a journalist who interviewed him in January 1960 he was able to show 77 colourful modern canoes made of moulded plastic reinforced with fibre glass - they were made on the premises. Obviously these boats were quite different to the ones used at the time of opening.

In May 1964 the City Council gave its approval to a scheme that would realign Antigua street and link it with Rolleston Avenue by a traffic bridge over the Avon. The proposal was not received with public enthusiasm and was finally abandoned, with the result that the quiet serenity of the river precinct near the hospital, the public gardens and the boat sheds were left undisturbed.