It is situated 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) southeast of the city centre, close to major arterial routes including State Highways 74 and 76 to Banks Peninsula.

Woolston became a district in 1882, and remained a self-governing borough until November 1921, when it was amalgamated with Christchurch.

The mudflats at Ferrymead at the eastern end of modern Woolston was considered an important food gathering place by the local Ngāi Tahu iwi.

[4] Early European records name the western area of Woolston as Roimata, meaning teardrop in Māori.

[citation needed] To this day some land titles in this area reference Roimata as their location.

The origins of the Parish date back to 1857 when the first Cob Church was built on the current site.

[citation needed] These church buildings are used daily for worship and many other religious and community activities.

In the 1850s and 1860s, wharves along the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River were used by small ships to service the area.

[citation needed] Before the Lyttelton Rail Tunnel was opened in 1867, all the incoming trade arrived in Ferrymead and was transported through Woolston (along Ferry Road) into Christchurch.

The road went from the wharf in Lower Heathcote to what is now the corner of High and Madras Streets.

On 16 June 1870, in response to a petition to the postmaster-general, Julius Vogel,[11] objecting to the post office being called Ferry Road, the name Woolston was gazetted.

[12] Woolston became a district in 1882,[10] and remained a self-governing borough until November 1921, when it was amalgamated with Christchurch.

In 1966 the Woolston industrial sewer was built, and up until that time the river had become increasingly polluted.

This resulted in effluent from the surrounding government settlements to pollute this stretch of river.

The 510 metres (1,670 ft) long project, which cost NZ$2m, had as a consequence that the trees on the riverbank died as far upstream as the Opawa bridge, and that banks collapsed.

[citation needed] Te Ara, the on-line Encyclopedia of New Zealand, says that "Factory workers living nearby gave Woolston a strong working-class identity.

The Woolston Brass Band, established in 1891,[18] has gained a national reputation and has won many competitions.

[15] Prior to the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the following heritage buildings were listed with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust: Woolston comprises five statistical areas.