91-657: Te Aka Ōtākou (The Otago Vine) is a cycleway and shared pathway for walking and cycling in Dunedin , New Zealand, which follows the shoreline of the Otago Harbour . It also known as the Otago Harbour Cycleway , and has previously been known by various names, including The Harbour Loop, and by the names of various sections (e.g., the Dunedin-St Leonards cycleway). The cycleway has been built in various section through
182-552: A 'heritage city' with its main streets refurbished in the Victorian style . R. A. Lawson 's Municipal Chambers ( Dunedin Town Hall ) in the Octagon were handsomely restored. The city was also recognised as a centre of excellence in tertiary education and research. The university's and polytechnic's growth accelerated. Dunedin has continued to refurbish itself, embarking on redevelopments of
273-610: A central city studio. Numerous large companies had been established in Dunedin, many of which became national leaders. Late among them was Fletcher Construction , founded by Sir James Fletcher in the early 20th century. Kempthorne Prosser , established in 1879 in Stafford Street, was the largest fertiliser and drug manufacturer in the country for over 100 years. G. Methven , a metalworking and tap manufacturer based in South Dunedin ,
364-549: A knife, a red shirt, and some other articles sparked what has been called " The Sealers' War ". A much-discussed affray in that conflict occurred after James Kelly of Hobart anchored the Sophia in the harbour in December 1817 with William Tucker on board. After a visit to nearby Whareakeake (Murdering Beach), where Tucker had been living since 1815, and where he and two other men were killed, Kelly took revenge on Māori on his ship in
455-645: A land area of 3,314.8 km (1,279.9 sq mi), slightly larger than the American state of Rhode Island or the English county of Cambridgeshire , and a little smaller than Cornwall . It was the largest city in land area in New Zealand until the formation of the 5,600 km (2,200 sq mi) Auckland Council on 1 November 2010. The Dunedin City Council boundaries since 1989 have extended to Middlemarch in
546-547: A long finger of land that formed the southeastern rim of the Dunedin Volcano . The peninsula is lightly settled, almost entirely along the harbour coast, and much of it is maintained as a natural habitat by the Otago Peninsula Trust . The peninsula contains several fine beaches, and is home to a considerable number of rare species including Yellow-eyed and Little penguins, seals , and shags . Taiaroa Head on
637-503: A means for ships to reach the city's wharves. Though a contentious and expensive decision, it was agreed to dredge a channel along the northwestern side of the harbour. The channel was finally opened on 30 December 1881. The initial channel was narrow and shallow, and did not get off to an auspicious start, as the Union Steam Ship Company's SS Penguin , the first ship to use it, was temporarily grounded while using it. The channel
728-478: A people called Kahui Tipua living in the area, then Te Rapuwai, semi-legendary but considered to be historical. The next arrivals were Waitaha , followed by Kāti Māmoe late in the 16th century and then Kāi Tahu ( Ngāi Tahu in modern standard Māori ) who arrived in the mid-17th century. European accounts have often represented these successive influxes as "invasions", but modern scholarship has cast doubt on that view. They were probably migrations – like those of
819-462: A population of 29,832 displacing Auckland's 27,840 residents to second place. Between 1881 and 1957, Dunedin was home to cable trams , being both one of the first and last such systems in the world. Early in the 1880s the inauguration of the frozen meat industry, with the first shipment leaving from Port Chalmers in 1882, saw the beginning of a later great national industry. The first successful commercial shipment of frozen meat from New Zealand to
910-469: A sheltered harbour and fishery, then deep water port. The harbour was formed from the drowned remnants of the giant Dunedin Volcano , centred close to what is now Port Chalmers. The remains of this violent origin can be seen in the basalt of the surrounding hills. The last eruptive phase ended some ten million years ago, leaving the prominent peak of Mount Cargill . The ancient and modern channel runs along
1001-505: A similar gradient close to its Mornington depot. Beyond the inner range of hills lie Dunedin's outer suburbs, notably to the northwest, beyond Roslyn. This direction contains Taieri Road and Three Mile Hill, which between them formed the original road route to the Taieri Plains . The modern State Highway 1 follows a different route, passing through Caversham in the west and out past Saddle Hill. Lying between Saddle Hill and Caversham are
SECTION 10
#17328513353501092-399: A single cycleway/pathway 36 kilometres (22 mi) in length. The cycleway briefly shares roadway between Fryatt Street and Wharf Street close to the city's docks, a distance of some 1200 metres. The creation of the pathway has included the widening of various roads around the city, notably the extension and separating of paths on the embankment that runs along the edge of Otago Peninsula. On
1183-585: A variety of different landforms. To the southwest lie the Taieri Plains , the broad, fertile lowland floodplains of the Taieri River and its major tributary, the Waipori . These are moderately heavily settled, and contain the towns of Mosgiel , and Allanton . They are separated from the coast by a range of low hills rising to some 300 metres (980 ft). Inland from the Taieri Plain is rough hill country. Close to
1274-584: A veteran of the Napoleonic Wars , served as the secular leader of the new colony. The Reverend Thomas Burns (1796–1871), a nephew of the poet Robert Burns , provided spiritual guidance. By the end of the 1850s, around 12,000 Scots had emigrated to Dunedin, many from the industrial lowlands . In 1852, Dunedin became the capital of the Otago Province , the whole of New Zealand from the Waitaki south. In 1861,
1365-470: A vibrant youth culture (students are referred to as 'Scarfies' by people who are not students), consisting of the previously mentioned music scene , and more recently a burgeoning boutique fashion industry. A strong visual arts community also exists in Dunedin, notably in Port Chalmers and the other settlements which dot the coast of the Otago Harbour , and also in communities such as Waitati . Sport
1456-513: Is catered for in Dunedin by the floodlit rugby and cricket venues of Forsyth Barr Stadium and University Oval, Dunedin , respectively, the new Caledonian Ground football and athletics stadium near the university at Logan Park , the large Edgar Centre indoor sports centre, the Dunedin Ice Stadium , and numerous golf courses and parks. There is also the Wingatui horseracing course to
1547-459: Is flanked by major roads leading from Dunedin to Port Chalmers ( SH 88 ) and to Portobello and Otakou (Portobello Road). A long-distance cycleway and walkway, Te Aka Ōtākou , runs parallel to both roads along the harbour's edge for 36 kilometres (22 mi). It was completed in 2023 and links Port Chalmers and Portobello. The South Island Main Trunk railway also runs parallel to the state highway on
1638-438: Is frequent, since much of this rainfall occurs in drizzle or light rain and heavy rain is relatively rare. Dunedin is one of the cloudiest major centres in the country, recording approximately 1,850 hours of bright sunshine per annum. Prevailing wind in the city is mainly a sometimes cool southwesterly and during late spring will alternate with northeasterlies. Warmer, dry northwest winds are also characteristic Foehn winds from
1729-407: Is known as the Octagon . It was once a gully, filled in the mid-nineteenth century to create the present plaza. The initial settlement of the city took place to the south on the other side of Bell Hill , a large outcrop which had to be reduced to provide easy access between the two parts of the settlement. The central city stretches away from this point in a largely northeast–southwest direction, with
1820-687: Is served by the Port Chalmers Branch , a branch line railway which diverges from the Main South Line and runs from Christchurch by way of Dunedin to Invercargill . Dunedin is also home to MTF , the nationwide vehicle finance company. The cityscape glitters with gems of Victorian and Edwardian architecture—the legacy of the city's gold-rush affluence. Many, including First Church, Otago Boys' High School and Larnach Castle were designed by one of New Zealand's most eminent architects R. A. Lawson . Other prominent buildings include Olveston and
1911-509: Is shallow and silty, and mudflats are often visible at low tide. In 1946 Otakou Fisheries was started based out of the township of the same name on the eastern side of the harbour. This was later to become a major part of the Otago fishing industry. As the city grew, and particularly with the increase in commerce that developed following the Otago gold rush of the 1860s, it became desirable to provide
SECTION 20
#17328513353502002-539: Is the natural harbour of Dunedin , New Zealand, consisting of a long, much-indented stretch of generally navigable water separating the Otago Peninsula from the mainland. They join at its southwest end, 21 km (13 mi) from the harbour mouth. It is home to Dunedin's two port facilities, Port Chalmers (half way along the harbour) and at Dunedin's wharf (at the harbour's end). The harbour has been of significant economic importance for approximately 700 years, as
2093-629: Is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch ), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from Dùn Èideann ("fort of Edin"), the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh , the capital of Scotland . The city has a rich Māori , Scottish , and Chinese heritage. With an estimated population of 136,000 as of June 2024, Dunedin is New Zealand's seventh-most populous metropolitan and urban area. For cultural, geographical, and historical reasons,
2184-406: Is tidal, shallow and seldom rough and for that reason is popular for water sports such as yachting and windsurfing . Substantial container port facilities exist at Port Chalmers, 9 km (6 mi) along the western shore from the harbour mouth. A channel along the western side of the harbour is regularly dredged, allowing vessels with a draught of 12.5 m to Port Chalmers, and 8 m all
2275-645: Is uncommon (perhaps every two or three years), except in the inland hill suburbs such as Halfway Bush and Wakari, which tend to receive a few days of snowfall each year. Spring can feature "four seasons in a day" weather, but from November to April it is generally settled and mild. Temperatures during summer can reach 30 °C (86 °F). Due to its maritime influence, Dunedin's mild summers and mild winters both stand out considering its latitude. Dunedin has relatively low rainfall in comparison to many of New Zealand's cities, with usually only between 600 and 750 millimetres (30 in) recorded per year. However, wet weather
2366-638: The Brothers , anchored in the harbour and picked him up. This is the first explicit and identifiable reference to a European ship in Otago Harbour. The court record containing it, made in 1810, refers to the harbour as 'Port Daniel', a name which stayed in use for some years. Another English sealer, the Sydney Cove , under Captain Charles McLaren, was anchored in the harbour late in 1810 when Te Wahia's theft of
2457-741: The Dunedin Railway Station . Other unusual or memorable buildings or constructions are Baldwin Street , claimed to be the world's steepest residential street; the Captain Cook tavern; Cadbury Chocolate Factory ( Cadbury World ) (In 2018, both the factory and Cadbury World closed to make way for a new NZ$ 1.4 billion hospital to replace the existing Dunedin Public Hospital ); and the Speight's brewery. The thriving tertiary student population has led to
2548-472: The Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh , the capital of Scotland . Charles Kettle the city's surveyor, instructed to emulate the characteristics of Edinburgh, produced a striking, "Romantic" town-planning design. There resulted both grand and quirky streets, as the builders struggled and sometimes failed to construct his bold vision across the challenging landscape. Captain William Cargill (1784–1860),
2639-523: The Second World War . Dunedin and the region industrialised and consolidated, and the Main South Line connected the city with Christchurch in 1878 and Invercargill in 1879. Otago Boys' High School was founded in 1863. The Otago Museum opened in 1868. The University of Otago , the oldest university in New Zealand, in 1869. Otago Girls' High School was established in 1871. By 1874, Dunedin and its suburbs had become New Zealand's largest city with
2730-636: The Southern District Health Board confirmed that test results indicated that long-term exposure to lead in the water supply posed little risk to the local population. In late January 2024, the Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council released a joint draft strategy to expand housing development and industrial land over the next thirty years to accommodate a projected 10% population growth. The Dunedin City territorial authority has
2821-621: The Weller brothers established their whaling station at Te Umu Kuri, Wellers Rock, at what is now called Otakou in November 1831. The busiest whaling port south of the Bay of Islands , it was also the hub of the largest European population in New Zealand after the Bay of Islands/ Hokianga district by the end of 1839. By that time whaling had collapsed and Dumont D'Urville and his officers, visiting in 1840, observed
Te Aka Ōtākou - Misplaced Pages Continue
2912-746: The Whitcoulls group—had its origins in Dunedin in the 19th century. There were also the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand , Wright Stephensons Limited , the Union Steamship Company and the National Insurance Company and the Standard Insurance Company among many others, which survived into the 20th century. After the Second World War prosperity and population growth revived, although Dunedin trailed as
3003-525: The art gallery , railway station and the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum . Meanwhile, the continued blossoming of local creative writing saw the city gain UNESCO City of Literature status in 2014. Dunedin has flourishing niche industries including engineering, software engineering, biotechnology and fashion. Port Chalmers on the Otago Harbour provides Dunedin with deep-water facilities. It
3094-553: The 1300s, soon after they first settled in New Zealand. Being too far south for the cultivation of sweet potato they adopted a hunter-gatherer society. This initially involved sealing and fishing in the harbour, with the latter dominating as seal stocks diminished. This time in the history of the harbour is recorded in place names such as Kamau Taurua (Quarantine Island), which means "a place where nets are set". Captain Cook never entered Otago Harbour, but speculated that it existed when he
3185-419: The 1980s birthplace of the Dunedin sound (which heavily influenced grunge , indie and modern alternative rock ). In 2014, the city was designated as a UNESCO City of Literature . Archaeological evidence shows the first human (Māori) occupation of New Zealand occurred between 1250 and 1300 AD, with the population concentrated along the southeast coast. A camp site at Kaikai Beach, near Long Beach to
3276-575: The British royals, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York toured Dunedin. In the 1930s and early 1940s a new generation of artists such as M. T. (Toss) Woollaston , Doris Lusk , Anne Hamblett, Colin McCahon and Patrick Hayman once again represented the best of the country's talent. The Second World War saw the dispersal of these painters, but not before McCahon had met a very youthful poet, James K. Baxter , in
3367-568: The Colony', John Oxley (1783/85?–1828). As noted, however, it had already been named. In 1826 Thomas Shepherd, one of a party of intending colonists, explored the site of Dunedin and left the oldest surviving pictures of the harbour and nearby coast, now in the Mitchell Library in Sydney. From its origins as a secret sealers' haven, Otago Harbour developed into a busy international whaling port after
3458-491: The Europeans – which incidentally resulted in bloodshed. The sealer John Boultbee recorded in the late 1820s that the 'Kaika Otargo' (settlements around and near Otago Harbour ) were the oldest and largest in the south. Lieutenant James Cook stood off what is now the coast of Dunedin between 25 February 1770 and 5 March 1770, naming Cape Saunders (on the Otago Peninsula ) and Saddle Hill. He reported penguins and seals in
3549-590: The Otago Harbour. Epidemics severely reduced the Māori population. By the late 1830s, the Harbour had become an international whaling port. Wright & Richards started a whaling station at Karitane in 1837 and Sydney-born Johnny Jones established a farming settlement and a mission station (the South Island's first) at Waikouaiti in 1840. The settlements at Karitane and Waikouaiti have endured, making modern Dunedin one of
3640-577: The Pacific Ocean by a long line of dunes which run east–west along the city's southern coastline and separate residential areas from Ocean Beach , which is traditionally divided into St. Clair Beach at the western end and St Kilda Beach to the east. Dunedin is home to Baldwin Street , which, according to the Guinness Book of Records , is the steepest street in the world. Its gradient is 1 in 2.9. The long-since-abandoned Maryhill Cablecar route had
3731-628: The Pacific Ocean. Archaeological evidence points to lengthy occupation of the area by Māori prior to the arrival of Europeans. The province and region of Otago takes its name from the Ngāi Tahu village of Otakou at the mouth of the harbour, which became a whaling station in the 1830s. In 1848 a Scottish settlement was established by the Lay Association of the Free Church of Scotland and between 1855 and 1900 many thousands of Scots emigrated to
Te Aka Ōtākou - Misplaced Pages Continue
3822-599: The United Kingdom was on the Dunedin in 1881. After ten years of gold rushes the economy slowed but Julius Vogel 's immigration and development scheme brought thousands more, especially to Dunedin and Otago, before recession set in again in the 1880s. In these first and second times of prosperity, many institutions and businesses were established, New Zealand's first daily newspaper, art school , medical school and public art gallery. The Dunedin Public Art Gallery
3913-536: The area. The outer peninsula adjacent to Taiaroa Head is one of three main congregating areas for dusky dolphins in New Zealand waters and the harbour and peninsula hosts important areas for breeding and nursing. Bottlenose dolphins and critically endangered, endemic Hector's dolphins also frequent the water. Other species such as common dolphins and orcas also visit the harbour entrance, where orcas and dusky dolphins have been seen interacting without violence. Southern right whales were historically seen inside
4004-524: The central city (most of these hills, such as Maori Hill , Pine Hill, and Maryhill , rise to some 200 metres [660 ft] above the plain). The head of the harbour includes a large area of reclaimed land ("The Southern Endowment"), much of which is used for light industry and warehousing. A large area of flat land, simply known colloquially as "The Flat" lies to the south and southwest of the city centre, and includes several larger and older suburbs, notably South Dunedin and St Kilda . These are protected from
4095-474: The channel was gradually widened and deepened, and by 1907 twice as many ships were using Dunedin's wharves as used Port Chalmers. It was only with the advent of Port Chalmers' container port in the early 1970s that the Victoria Channel again became quiet. The channel is maintained by Port Otago Ltd, which keeps it dredged to a depth of eight metres, allowing ships of up to 40,000 tonnes deadweight to travel up
4186-716: The city centre, starting at due north) Burkes ; Saint Leonards ; Deborah Bay; Careys Bay; Port Chalmers ; Sawyers Bay; Roseneath; Broad Bay ; Company Bay ; Macandrew Bay ; Portobello ; Burnside ; Green Island ; Waldronville ; Westwood ; Saddle Hill; Sunnyvale ; Fairfield ; Abbotsford ; Bradford ; Brockville ; Halfway Bush ; Helensburgh . (clockwise from the city centre, starting at due north) Waitati ; Waikouaiti ; Karitane ; Seacliff ; Warrington ; Pūrākaunui ; Long Beach ; Aramoana ; Otakou ; Mosgiel; Brighton; Taieri Mouth ; Henley ; Allanton ; East Taieri ; Momona ; Outram ; West Taieri ; Waipori ; Middlemarch ; Hyde . Since local council reorganisation in
4277-419: The city has long been considered one of New Zealand's four main centres. The urban area of Dunedin lies on the central-eastern coast of Otago, surrounding the head of Otago Harbour . The harbour and hills around Dunedin are the remnants of an extinct volcano. The city suburbs extend out into the surrounding valleys and hills, onto the isthmus of the Otago Peninsula , and along the shores of the Otago Harbour and
4368-533: The city's economy remains centred around tertiary education , with students from the University of Otago , New Zealand's oldest university , and the Otago Polytechnic , accounting for a large proportion of the population; 21.6 per cent of the city's population was aged between 15 and 24 at the 2006 census, compared to the New Zealand average of 14.2 per cent. Dunedin is also noted for its vibrant music scene, as
4459-518: The city. During the 1980s Dunedin's popular music scene blossomed, with many acts, such as The Chills , The Clean , The Verlaines and Straitjacket Fits , gaining national and international recognition. The term "The Dunedin sound " was coined to describe the 1960s-influenced, guitar-led music which flourished at the time. Bands and musicians are still playing and recording in many styles. By 1990, population decline had steadied and slow growth has occurred since and Dunedin re-invented itself as
4550-410: The city. The flat land at the southern end of the harbour and close to the isthmus of Otago Peninsula was ideally suited for a city (and was the site for Dunedin), but the harbour itself could naturally accommodate deep-drafted ships only as far as Port Chalmers. At Port Chalmers, two islands ( Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua and Goat Island / Rakiriri ) almost bisect the harbour. Beyond them, the harbour
4641-423: The construction of the nearby Forsyth Barr Stadium . The section of cycleway close to Roseneath includes a large retaining wall decorated with a stylised taniwha by local artist Simon Kaan. The cycleway runs close to a controversial sculpture of giant teeth, Harbour Mouth Molars by Regan Gentry, at the northwestern end of Portsmouth Drive. A large brutalist sculpture, Kuri/Dog by Stephen Mulqueen, guards
SECTION 50
#17328513353504732-541: The discovery of gold at Gabriel's Gully , to the south-west, led to a rapid influx of people and saw Dunedin become New Zealand's first city by growth of population in 1865. The new arrivals included many Irish, but also Italians, Lebanese, French, Germans, Jews and Chinese. The Dunedin Southern Cemetery was established in 1858, the Dunedin Northern Cemetery in 1872. In the 1860s, Ross Creek Reservoir
4823-883: The early years of the 21st century, and as of 2022 extended in an unbroken section from St Leonards along the western edge of the Otago Harbour south to the heart of Dunedin City parallel with the South Island Main Trunk railway and SH 88 , along Portsmouth Drive on the Southern Endowment at the head of the harbour, and along Portobello Road close to the shore of Otago Peninsula as far as Macandrew Bay (opened in September 2020). Further sections have been completed from Broad Bay to Portobello . Work is, As of 2022, in progress on completion of sections between St Leonards and Port Chalmers , and on connecting Macandrew Bay and Broad Bay. Completion of these sections will create
4914-468: The entrance of the harbour possibly up to Quarantine and Goat Island / Rakiriri . They used the shallow, calm water for nursing calves before commercial whaling wiped them out locally. The number of humpback whales visiting the peninsula have increased as this species recovers much faster than the southern rights. There have also been observations of blue whales , minke whales , and long-finned pilot whales . Māori first arrived at Otago Harbour in
5005-568: The fourth 'main centre'. A generation reacting against Victorianism started demolishing its buildings and many were lost, notably William Mason 's Stock exchange in 1969. ( Dunedin Stock Exchange building ) Although the university continued to expand, the city's population contracted, notably from 1976 to 1981. This was a culturally vibrant time with the university's new privately endowed arts fellowships bringing writers including James K Baxter , Ralph Hotere , Janet Frame and Hone Tuwhare to
5096-458: The harbour at its southern end, which along with numerous streams lowers the salinity of the harbour water. Similar to the Otago Peninsula, the harbour water is known for various rare wildlife. The area is the home of many species of wading birds. Other bird species which visit the harbour include two species of penguins, the blue penguin and the rare yellow-eyed penguin . Taiaroa Head , at
5187-419: The harbour to Dunedin. Much of the channel's larger traffic in the early 21st century is oil transport to Dunedin city and chemicals and fertiliser to and from Ravensbourne 's fertiliser works. Aramoana , at the harbour mouth, has twice been projected as the site for New Zealand's second aluminium smelter. The proposals, in the mid-1970s and early 1980s, were abandoned after major public protest. The harbour
5278-521: The harbour, including local chief Korako. He then burnt a harbourside village, 'the beautiful City of Otago', probably on Te Rauone Beach. Peace was achieved in 1823, and on 17 July of that year John Rodolphus Kent of the Naval cutter Mermaid from New South Wales , while in the harbour, took 'the liberty of naming it (as it has not hitherto been named) "Port Oxley", in honour of the Surveyor General of
5369-578: The harbourside close to Otago Yacht Club, just to the northwest of the mouth of the Leith. This was constructed prior to the opening of the cycleway in 2008. The cycleway also passes close to another older work, Toroa by Peter Nicholls . 45°52′14″S 170°32′05″E / 45.87056°S 170.53472°E / -45.87056; 170.53472 Dunedin Dunedin ( / d ʌ ˈ n iː d ɪ n / duh- NEE -din ; Māori : Ōtepoti )
5460-498: The incorporated city. Dunedin's population and wealth boomed during the 1860s' Otago gold rush , and for a brief period of time it became New Zealand's largest urban area. The city saw substantial migration from mainland China at the same time, predominately from Guangdong and Guangxi . Dunedin is home to New Zealand's oldest Chinese community . Today Dunedin has a diverse economy which includes manufacturing, publishing, arts, tourism and technology-based industries. The mainstay of
5551-485: The late 1980s, these are suburbs, but are not commonly regarded as such. The climate of Dunedin in general is temperate. Under the Köppen climate classification , Dunedin features an oceanic climate . This leads to mild summers and coolish winters. Winter is not particularly frosty with around 49 frosts per year, lower than most other South Island locations, but sunny. Snowfall is not particularly common and significant snowfall
SECTION 60
#17328513353505642-533: The longest-standing European-settled territories in New Zealand. Early in 1844, the Deborah , captained by Thomas Wing and carrying (among others) his wife Lucy and a representative of the New Zealand Company , Frederick Tuckett , sailed south from Nelson to determine the location of a planned Free Church settlement. After inspecting several areas around the eastern coast of the South Island, Tuckett selected
5733-548: The low-lying flats and nearby hills and across the isthmus to the slopes of the Otago Peninsula . Eastern Otago is tectonically stable, meaning that it does not experience many earthquakes. One of the only known faults near Dunedin is the Akatore Fault . The first earthquake to cause widespread damage in Dunedin since its founding was the 1974 Dunedin earthquake, which had a magnitude of 4.9 and caused about $ 3.5 million in damages (2024 terms). The central region of Dunedin
5824-403: The main streets of George Street and Princes Street meeting at The Octagon. Here they are joined by Stuart Street , which runs orthogonally to them, from the Dunedin Railway Station in the southeast, and steeply up to the suburb of Roslyn in the northwest. Many of the city's notable old buildings are located in the southern part of this area and on the inner ring of lower hills which surround
5915-663: The mid-1890s, the economy revived. Institutions such as the Otago Settlers Museum (now renamed as Toitū Otago Settlers Museum ) and the Hocken Collections —the first of their kind in New Zealand—were founded. More notable buildings such as the Railway Station and Olveston were erected. New energy in the visual arts represented by G. P. Nerli culminated in the career of Frances Hodgkins . By 1900, Dunedin
6006-413: The north of the city's urban area is undulating hill country containing several small, mainly coastal, settlements, including Waitati , Warrington , Seacliff , and Waikouaiti . State Highway 1 winds steeply through a series of hills here, notably The Kilmog . These hills can be considered a coastal extension of the Silverpeaks Range. To the east of Dunedin lies the entirety of the Otago Peninsula ,
6097-454: The north of the present-day city of Dunedin, has been dated from about that time. There are numerous archaic ( moa -hunter) sites in what is now Dunedin, several of them large and permanently occupied, particularly in the 14th century. The population contracted but expanded again with the evolution of the Classic Māori culture which saw the building of several pā , fortified settlements, notably Pukekura at ( Taiaroa Head ), about 1650. There
6188-430: The northwest . The circle of hills surrounding the inner city shelters the inner city from much of the prevailing weather, while hills just to the west of the city can often push inclement weather around to the west of the city. Inland, beyond the heart of the city and into inland Otago, the climate is sub-continental: winters are quite cold and dry, summers warm and dry. Thick freezing ground fogs are common in winter in
6279-558: The opposite side of the harbour. Port Chalmers provides Dunedin's main deep-water port, including the city's container port. The Dunedin skyline is dominated by a ring of (traditionally seven) hills which form the remnants of a volcanic crater . Notable among them are Mount Cargill (700 m [2,300 ft]), Flagstaff (680 m [2,230 ft]), Saddle Hill (480 m [1,570 ft]), Signal Hill (390 m [1,280 ft]), and Harbour Cone (320 m [1,050 ft]). Dunedin's hinterland encompasses
6370-400: The other side of the harbour, causeways used by the rail line have been widened to create room for the cycleway, and a new boardwalk is under construction crossing Blanket Bay between St Leonards and Port Chalmers. Within the heart of the city, a new bridge was constructed across the mouth of the Water of Leith and extensive short cycling and walking paths were created close by at the time of
6461-413: The outer suburbs of Green Island and Abbotsford . Between Green Island and Roslyn lies the steep-sided valley of the Kaikorai Stream , which is today a residential and light industrial area. Suburban settlements—mostly regarded as separate townships—also lie along both edges of the Otago Harbour. Notable among these are Portobello and Macandrew Bay , on the Otago Peninsula coast, and Port Chalmers on
6552-812: The peninsula's northeastern point is a site of global ecological significance, as it is home to the world's only mainland breeding colony of royal albatross . (clockwise from the city centre, starting at due north) Woodhaugh ; Glenleith ; Leith Valley ; Dalmore ; Liberton ; Pine Hill ; Normanby ; Mt Mera ; North East Valley ; Opoho ; Dunedin North ; Ravensbourne ; Highcliff ; Shiel Hill ; Challis ; Waverley ; Vauxhall ; Ocean Grove (Tomahawk); Tainui ; Andersons Bay ; Musselburgh ; South Dunedin ; St Kilda ; St Clair ; Corstorphine ; Kew ; Forbury ; Caversham ; Concord ; Maryhill ; Kenmure ; Mornington ; Kaikorai Valley ; City Rise ; Belleknowes ; Roslyn ; Kaikorai ; Wakari ; Maori Hill . (clockwise from
6643-547: The plain, much of this is forested, notably around Berwick and Lake Mahinerangi , and also around the Silverpeaks Range which lies northwest of the Dunedin urban area. Beyond this, the land becomes drier and opens out into grass and tussock -covered land. A high, broad valley, the Strath-Taieri lies in Dunedin's far northwest, containing the town of Middlemarch , one of the area's few concentrations of population. To
6734-469: The port had become the centre of a riotous trade in liquor and prostitution. This continued until the Scottish settlers arrived in 1848 and made Port Chalmers and Dunedin the new population centres on the harbour. While Otago Harbour might have the appearance of an excellent deep-water port, it was not naturally suited to such a role, especially in the early days of settlement when ships needed to dock close to
6825-550: The site which would become known as Dunedin. (Tuckett rejected the site of what would become Christchurch , as he felt the ground around the Avon River / Ōtākaro was swampy. ) The Lay Association of the Free Church of Scotland , through a company called the Otago Association , founded Dunedin at the head of Otago Harbour in 1848 as the principal town of its special settlement. The name "Dunedin" comes from Dùn Èideann ,
6916-688: The south of the city. St Clair Beach is a well-known surfing venue, and the harbour basin is popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers . Dunedin has four public swimming pools: Moana Pool , Port Chalmers Pool, Mosgiel and St Clair Salt Water Pool. In February 2021, the East Otago towns of Waikouaiti and Karitane in New Zealand reported high lead levels in their water supplies. Local and national authorities responded by dispatching water tanks to assist local residents and providing free blood tests, fruits and vegetables. The lead poisoning scare also attracted coverage by national media. By early March 2021,
7007-539: The summer of 1805 to 1806. Daniel Cooper, master of the London sealer Unity , probably did call in the summer of 1808 to 1809 when his Chief Officer, Charles Hooper, probably gave his name to Hooper's Inlet on the Otago Peninsula . William Tucker (1784–1817) was with a gang employed by Robert Campbell , a Sydney merchant, who were dropped on islands off the Dunedin coast in November 1809. Tucker and Daniel Wilson were at Otago Harbour on 3 May 1810 when Robert Mason, master of
7098-641: The surrounding settlements and rural area. Dunedin City had a population of 128,901 in the 2023 New Zealand census , an increase of 2,646 people (2.1%) since the 2018 census , and an increase of 8,652 people (7.2%) since the 2013 census . There were 61,722 males, 66,300 females and 873 people of other genders in 49,920 dwellings. 5.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age was 37.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 19,056 people (14.8%) aged under 15 years, 34,455 (26.7%) aged 15 to 29, 53,055 (41.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 22,329 (17.3%) aged 65 or older. Otago Harbour Otago Harbour
7189-432: The tip of the Otago Peninsula, is home to the only "mainland" colony of northern royal albatrosses in the world. The bay and peninsula provides a critical habitat for Hooker's sea lions and New Zealand fur seals . Southern elephant and leopard seals are occasional visitors into the harbour. In total, four species of pinnipeds , and at least nine or more species of cetaceans are known to inhabit or migrate through
7280-564: The upper reaches of the Taieri River 's course around Middlemarch , and in summer, the temperature occasionally reaches 30 °C (86 °F). The Dunedin City territorial authority has a population of 136,000 as of June 2024. This comprises 106,700 people in the Dunedin urban area, 15,150 people in the Mosgiel urban area, 1,580 people in Brighton , 1,330 people in Waikouaiti , and 11,240 people in
7371-508: The vicinity, which led Australian, American and British sealers to visit from the beginning of the 19th century. The early years of sealing saw a feud between sealers and local Māori from 1810 to 1823, the " Sealers' War " sparked by an incident on Otago Harbour. William Tucker became the first European to settle in the area – in 1815. Permanent European occupation dates from 1831, when the Weller brothers of New South Wales founded their whaling station at Otago (present-day Otakou ) on
7462-672: The way to the heart of Dunedin. New Zealand's frozen meat export trade was inaugurated at Port Chalmers in 1882. Portobello is home to one of New Zealand's leading marine research establishments, the Portobello Marine Laboratory , a department of the University of Otago . This lies at the harbour's edge on the tip of a small arm of the Otago Peninsula, the Portobello Peninsula. There are currently numerous sightseeing and fishing boats that can be chartered and one scheduled ferry from Port Chalmers to Portobello . The harbour
7553-487: The west, Waikouaiti in the north, the Pacific Ocean in the east and south-east, and the Waipori/Taieri River and the township of Henley in the south-west. Dunedin is situated at the head of Otago Harbour , a narrow inlet extending south-westward for some 15 miles. The harbour is a recent creation formed by the flooding of two river valleys. From the time of its foundation in 1848, the city has spread slowly over
7644-482: The western side of the harbour, the eastern side being shallow, with large sandbanks exposed at low tide. Two islands form a line between Port Chalmers and Portobello half way along the harbour— Goat Island / Rakiriri and Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua . The nearby smaller island known as Pudding Island (Titeremoana) lies close to the Peninsula shore and can be reached by foot at low tide. The Water of Leith flows into
7735-420: Was a settlement in what is now central Dunedin (Ōtepoti), occupied as late as about 1785 but abandoned by 1826. There were also Māori settlements at Whareakeake (Murdering Beach), Pūrākaunui , Mapoutahi (Goat Island Peninsula) and Huriawa ( Karitane Peninsula) to the north, and at Taieri Mouth and Otokia ( Henley ) to the south, all inside the present boundaries of Dunedin. Māori tradition tells first of
7826-542: Was also a leading firm, as was H. E. Shacklock , an iron founder and appliance manufacturer later taken over by the Auckland concern Fisher and Paykel . The Mosgiel Woollens was another Victorian Dunedin foundation. Hallensteins was the colloquial name of a menswear manufacturer and national retail chain, while the DIC and Arthur Barnett were department stores, the former a nationwide concern. Coulls, Somerville Wilkie—later part of
7917-536: Was among these new foundations. It had been actively promulgated by artist William Mathew Hodgkins . There was also a remarkable architectural flowering producing many substantial and ornamental buildings. R. A. Lawson 's First Church of Otago and Knox Church are notable examples, as are buildings by Maxwell Bury and F. W. Petre . The other visual arts also flourished under the leadership of W. M. Hodgkins . The city's landscape and burgeoning townscape were vividly portrayed by George O'Brien (1821–1888). From
8008-436: Was created so as to serve Dunedin's need for water. The London-owned Bank of Otago opened its doors in Dunedin in 1863, opened 12 branches throughout its region, then in 1873 merged with the new National Bank of New Zealand also based in London and also operated from Dunedin but, true to its name, it rapidly expanded throughout New Zealand. Dunedin remained the principal local source of the nation's development capital until
8099-451: Was no longer the country's biggest city. Influence and activity moved north to the other centres ("the drift north"), a trend which continued for much of the following century. Despite this, the university continued to expand, and a student quarter became established. At the same time, people started to notice Dunedin's mellowing, the ageing of its grand old buildings, with writers like E. H. McCormick pointing out its atmospheric charm. In 1901
8190-569: Was off the Pacific coast in 1770. It is not known exactly when the first Europeans (likely sealers) entered the harbour, though Māori oral tradition puts it some time 'long before' 1810. Written records of this time are restricted to a handful of journals and newspaper accounts of sailors who only stayed briefly. George Bass made the Dunedin end of the harbour the north east limit of his proposed fishing monopoly in 1803. The American ship Favourite and its supercargo Daniel Whitney may have called in
8281-508: Was officially named the Victoria Channel by Keith Ramsay, chairman of the Otago Harbour Board. A significant area at the head of the harbour — much of it referred to as the Southern Endowment — has been reclaimed since the founding of Dunedin, primarily for industrial use. Smaller portions have also been reclaimed at a number of places around the harbour, including Port Chalmers, Macandrew Bay, and Broad Bay. As finance allowed,
#349650