The Oxford Hotel built by April 1850 on Public Reserve No.1, it was the Canterbury Association's store. In 1853 the adjacent Christchurch Common became Market Place and the Association's store was in use as hostel for the Māori bringing produce from Kaiapoi, Rapaki and Port Levy to the weekly farmers' markets. By the beginning of the 1860s the former store was being used as their meeting hall by the United Methodist church.

The twelve year old store building was replaced in 1862 by the Boarding House by Antill Alfred Adley. Adley had been granted a Publican's Licence by 1865, and his premises became the sixth hotel to overlook the market place. The tall entrance to the Left led through to Stables and a small paddock on what would become the site of the city's third fire station in 1876.

Adley sold his hotel in 1873 and by 1881 the shingled roofed wooden building had been replaced by the current premises.

After undergoing substantial modification in 1978, the old hotel became known as the Oxford Tavern. Now known as the Oxford on Avon, it houses two bars and a pair of popular restaurants

The 125-year-old Oxford-on-Avon is badly damaged and the restaurant/cafe will not reopen