While the Sydenham area had seen development from the earliest days of European settlement in Christchurch, it was originally split between the Heathcote and Spreydon road districts instead of being a locality of its own right.

By 1902, the population of the suburb had more than doubled since its formation, making it the largest borough in New Zealand.

[9] The shopping precinct located on Colombo Street was badly affected by the 2010 and 2011 Christchurch earthquakes with many commercial buildings demolished.

[10] The Christchurch City Council produced a master plan in 2012 for redeveloping Sydenham after the earthquakes.

[11] The business district located south of Moorhouse Avenue was nicknamed "SoMo" by Lonely Planet in 2012.

[11] The Sydenham school site surrounded by Colombo, Brougham, Buchan and Waverley streets was purchased by the New Zealand Government from the Christchurch City Council for $4.5 million dollars in 2015.

This was then sold to Fletchers who built 76 terrace style houses on the site and named the development "350 Colombo".

[13] Sydenham is located near the centre of Christchurch, and is separated from the central city by the South Island Main Trunk Railway and Moorhouse Avenue.

State Highway 76 runs through the middle of Sydenham before connecting to the Christchurch Southern Motorway in the neighbouring suburb of Spreydon to the west.

A number of suburbs are located to the south of Sydenham at the base of the Port Hills, including Somerfield, Beckenham and Cashmere.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Woolstore in Durham Street is the only Category I heritage building.

[21] Coming from the south, the Sydenham Post Office[22] and the Sydenham Heritage Church formed an entry into the strip shopping area along Colombo Street, but the church was controversially demolished shortly after the February earthquake.

[23] Nazareth House Chapel is located west of Sydenham Park and belongs to a retirement village.

[30] In July 2020, Christchurch-based retail chain Smiths City moved its flagship store to The Colombo centre.

These including Blair Hartland, Lee Germon, Rob Nicol, Chad Bowes and Stephen Fleming for cricket, Gary Lawson for Bowls, John Radovonich for hockey and Charlie Oliver for rugby union.

[33][34][35][36] The Christchurch South Police Station is located on Colombo Street in Beckenham.

[40] Waltham School takes students to the east of Colombo Street and south of Moorhouse Avenue.