Beresford Street in the suburb of New Brighton, Christchurch

Beresford Street in New Brighton – Formerly Wilson Street. Named after William Barbour Wilson (1819-1897). Also formerly High Street. Wilson Street and High Street were amalgamated and re-named Beresford Street. Named after Charles William Beresford (1846-1919). Wilson, the first Mayor of Christchurch in 1868, owned land at New Brighton. He was the first chairman of the New Brighton Tramway Company. Wilson Street is first mentioned in the Star in 1878. High Street was the section of Beresford Street from Union Street to Marine Parade. Wilson Street was the section from Richmond Terrace (later Owles Street) to Union Street. Both Wilson Street and High Street were formed in 1890. Wilson Street and High Street were amalgamated to become Beresford Street at a special meeting of the New Brighton Council on 12 August 1907. Beresford was Commander of the Channel Fleet 1903-1905. Harry Hawker (1868- 1947), a councillor 1905- 1909, had suggested that New Brighton street names be changed to the names of British sea captains who had fought in the 18th and 19th century – a gesture linking Christchurch with the home country, was patriotic and emphasised the fact that New Brighton was a seaside suburb. A huge amount of information from the old library website. Note the new library website has less information than the old website.

There were lots of streets named after William Barbour Wilson and I have written about him in connection with those streets. He was a nasty wife beating drunk.

On Papers Past as High Street there were sections for sale in 1892 plus a couple of death notices. In the 1890s Mrs Homersham had a boarding house and there were ads for letting rooms in her house. Wilson Street has sections for sale in 1890 and 1892. A couple of death notices and in 1905 stables were destroyed in a fire.

In 1907 the streets became Beresford Street. In 1908 the street between Union Street and the beach was formed and in 1909 there were sections for sale. There was possibly a Beresford Street in Linwood as well. In the 1020s and 1930s there was a Nurse Miles Maternity Home and it was also called Tiverton Private Hospital. Lots of ads for this private hospital. In 1931 William Miles died at Tiverton 63 Beresford Street and Mary Miles died in 1937. There was also a Nurse Yole’s Maternity Home in the 1930s at 103 Beresford Street.

In 1921 there was a mortgagee sale for Joyland Picture Theatre. In the 1940s there was a Princess Theatre but I wasn’t sure if it was the same theatre as Joyland Picture Theatre.

From the 1950s onwards there seemed to be a lot more businesses on this street. Lots of ads for the dry cleaning business, also Watson’s Motorcycles Company plus there was a coal merchant. In 1987 the supermarket had a fire. Liquorland was frequently mentioned and it was close to the Esplanade Hotel.

In 1990s Seaview Christian Centre got several mentions. There was also Seafield School of English.

Over the decades there were a few bodies found in the river at that end of the street and they usually were elderly or drunk and sometimes both.

I actually walked this street back in March when I was geocaching in the area. There is one house that dates from 1910 but it had been altered so much that I couldn’t tell that it was an older house. several houses were built in 1970 and 1990 and most houses were at the Owles Tce end of the street.

There is a kindergarten plus a ptreschool and nursery. There is a back entrance to the police station. At the Marine Parade end there is still a liquor store but it is now called Super Liquor. There was a huge number of units built in 2025 on the opposite side of the street from several businesses. I ended up comparing street view from 2025 and 2007. The Esplanade Hotel was demolished after the earthquakes. The Seaview Christian Centre and Seafield School of English are now Grace Beach Campus which is part of Grace Vineyard Church. All the new buildings on are Beresford Street on either side of Union Street have been built on two car parks. I am not sure if they are available to buy or rental units or possibly social housing. I did take a screenshot of the Seaview Cristian Centre from street view of 2007.