A Legacy in Limestone
Within 25 years of the first European dwelling of cabbage trees and clay being built in 1853, Ōamaru had risen to become not only the country’s ninth largest town, but also reputedly “the best built in New Zealand”.
The discovery of an excellent building material, limestone, contributed to the young town’s early appearance of permanence and stability. Because the stone was easily carved, architects and stonemasons revelled in the creation of the then fashionable classic forms of architecture. Their skills, aided by the general prosperity of the time, have given Ōamaru some of the finest 19th century streetscapes one could hope to find in New Zealand today.
Ōamaru has traditionally been a servicing centre for the farms and estates of the interior. At Totara, just south of Ōamaru, sheep for New Zealand’s first shipment of frozen mutton to the United Kingdom were killed and processed.
Because the port played an important role in the handling of imports and exports, the harbour area was understandably developed first. Here, creamy white limestone hotels, banks and offices rose alongside equally well-designed and well-proportioned grain and wool stores and warehouses.
The widening of the Thames Street bridge over the Ōamaru Creek then enabled the commercial area to spread along Thames Street. With the development of the northern end of the town, “The Whitestone City”, as Ōamaru soon became known, continued to expand.
This shift of commerce, together with the closure of the Port of Ōamaru in the l970s, has been fortuitous for the town’s 19th century heritage. It has allowed the area to remain largely intact…poised, if you like, to greet an era of renewed appreciation.
Architecture OAMARU, ITCHEN/TEE ST Now upstairs the home of its owner the North Otago Club, and hosting downstairs the Cucina Restaurant and Tees St Café, this building was originally designed by Forrester and Lemon for Hood and Shennan’s Drapery in 1874. In 1886 it was remodelled for the AMP Society.
Architecture Highway 83, Otekaieke Built 1876-9 for major sheep baron Robert Campbell, this mansion was designed by Dunedin architect N.Y.A. Wales. The limestone for the building was quarried on site and the roof slates are from near Herbert. During the 20th Century, the homestead was used as a special Government
An important industrial landmark in beautiful North Otago houses four-storeyed Clarks Mill – New Zealand’s only surviving water-powered flour mill with early machinery still substantially intact. It was built as part of Totara Estate in 1866.
Architecture OAMARU, THAMES STREET Arguably the finest building by the prolific local architectural partnership of Forrester and Lemon, the Ōamaru courthouse was built 1882-3, superceding an earlier courthouse to the south. The well – proportioned classical design reflects the influence of Palladian architecture. Supreme Court sittings were held here until
The Criterion Hotel has eight upstairs rooms available, together with a breakfast room. These are the only rooms located in the heart of the historical precinct, the perfect place for tourists to stay in order to visit more of Oamaru’s attractions.
Architecture OAMARU, TYNE STREET Now the home of the North Otago Art Society, this former Customs House has had many varied uses over the years. For a time it served the Waitaki County Council and later the Buffalo Lodge. It was designed in 1883 by Forrester and Lemon. 29 Tyne Street
Architecture OAMARU, THAMES STREET This former Bank of New South Wales was built at a time of rapid growth in Ōamaru. Designed by Dunedin architect Robert Lawson in 1883, the building forms a handsome pair in limestone with its equally imposing neighbour, the National Bank. Both have luxuriant acanthus leaves
Architecture OAMARU, Harbour STREET This former Harbour Board office, built in 1876, is one of the first public buildings designed by Ōamaru architects, Forrester and Lemon. Heavily ornamented, the building was designed in the Venetian Renaissance style. It is now the Headquarters of the Ōamaru Whitestone Civic Trust. 2 Harbour
Architecture OAMARU, Harbour STREET Built in 1882, to the design of Dennison and Grant, this elegantly detailed, three storey Victorian warehouse was built for NZ Loan and Mercantile when it was the largest stock and station agency in New Zealand. The building was designed to hold 100,000 sacks of
Architecture OAMARU HARBOUR This Victorian/Edwardian deep water port survives in a relatively intact and unchanged state, representative of a site type that has generally disappeared. Its key component, Sumpter Wharf, was constructed in 1884 specifically for the refrigerated steamers designed to run between New Zealand and Britain. Recognising its national
The beautiful Oamaru Opera House stands resplendent in historic Thames Street, an intact, heritage-listed nineteenth century streetscape. Built over a century ago, the Oamaru Opera House has long been a hub for social, political and cultural activity, and continues to be the first choice for quality entertainment, meetings and conferencing
Architecture OAMARU, THAMES STREET Arguably the finest building by the prolific local architectural partnership of Forrester and Lemon, the Ōamaru Courthouse was built in 1882-3, superceding an earlier courthouse to the south. The well- proportioned classical design reflects the influence of Palladian architecture. Supreme Court sittings were held here until
Architecture OAMARU, THAMES STREET Now a restaurant, this former post office, built 1864 is now Ōamaru’s oldest surviving public building. It is the only known example of architect W. H. Clayton’s work remaining in the town and differs from its more elaborate neighbour, the second post office, which replaced it in
Architecture OAMARU, THAMES STREET Now the home of the Waitaki District Council, this elegant essay in limestone was designed by Forrester and Lemon in 1883, but without its clocktower. It was Thomas Forrester’s son John, who saw to the addition of the 28 metre high tower in 1903. The clock
Architecture OAMARU, THAMES STREET Originally built for the Bank of Otago in 1871, this elegant and dignified building was, like its neighbour, the Forrester Gallery, designed by Robert Lawson. The Bank of Otago, founded in 1863, was absorbed by the National Bank in 1875. 11 Thames StreetOamaru 9400 New Zealand
Architecture OAMARU, HUMBER STREET This wooden building was designed by George Troup in1900. It was Ōamaru’s second station and typified the town’s move north from Tyne St.Its 700 seat dining room was the largest in the South Island. At the station’s peak, eight passenger trains with over 5000 people passed
Architecture OAMARU, TYNE STREET Built in 1881-2 by James Johnston, a stone mason and main rival to architects Forrester and Lemon, this former grain store is probably the most ornamental grain store in the country. In its heyday it could hold some 30,000 sacks of grain. Between 1906-1970, the building
Architecture Highway 83, Kurow A disagreement over where the Waitaki Valley’s Anglican parish centre should be sited, resulted in this commodious vicarage, with small adjoining chapel in Kurow and the main church in Duntroon. Designed by John Forrester, the vicarage and chapel was built of locally quarried limestone, circa 1892-4.
Architecture OAMARU, Taward STREET This Catholic co-educational school was founded on the property known as Redcastle in 1927. The property had been that of the Hon. John McLean, a well-known run holder and benefactor. When his nephew, St John Buckley inherited the property in 1902, he built a large brick
Architecture OAMARU, Corner Itchen/Tees St The first part of this prominent church, the south end of the nave, was built as early as 1866, followed by the rest of the nave in 1876, the spire and chancel in 1913 and the West porch in 1922. Rumsey and Jackson designed
Architecture Duntroon Designed by Christchurch architect Thomas Cane, who had formerly worked for the celebrated London architect Sir Gilbert Scott, this handsome Gothic revival structure was built of locally quarried limestone in 1901. Both St Martin’s and its vicarage in Kurow were built as the result of a generous bequest
Architecture OAMARU, REED ST This magnificent Catholic church building was designed by Dunedin architect F.W. Petre, well-known throughout the South Island for his church architecture. Like a number of large churches, St Patrick’s was built in various stages, the first in 1893 and the last in 1918. The interior with
Architecture Coquet Street This fine church building rose in 1875 on the foundations of an earlier church building designed by Dunedin architect William Mason in 1864. Described as “unorthodox”, the earlier building was not favoured by the parish and was torn down. The new St Paul’s was designed by Forrester
A unique, historic hotel, built to last in 1882.Welcoming visitors for over 135 years, Stanley’s Hotel is well worth a visit and/or a stay overnight.The Hotel is practically sitting on gold – located nearby to Oceana Gold Macraes Mine.Come & enjoy some great Southern hospitality. Open daily from 11am til
Architecture OAMARU, THAMES STREET The central portion of this stone bridge over Ōamaru Creek was constructed in 1861 to link the old town centre with Thames Street in the north. Originally only 5.5 metres wide, the bridge was widened to its present width of 40.24 metres in 1876. Until 1932,
New Zealand is said to be founded on the sheep’s back, and Totara Estate is central to this history. Situated south of Oamaru, the historic farm (originally 15,000 acres), was the birthplace of New Zealand’s billion dollar frozen meat industry.
Architecture OAMARU, TYNE STREET This former Union Bank of Australia was designed by Forrester and Lemon and built 1878-9. It is one of the earliest examples of the Venetian palazzo style of commercial architecture in New Zealand. The Union Bank was the forerunner of the ANZ Bank. Today the
Architecture State Highway 1, Waianakarua An example of the work of John Turnbull Thomson, chief surveyor for the Otago Provincial Government, this twin-arched limestone bridge was constructed in 1874. Widened and strengthened during 2004-5, it is one of the oldest bridges still in use on a main state highway. The
Architecture OAMARU, Waitaki Avenue Like many other schools, Waitaki Boys’ grew as needs arose, but in this case, in the best English public school tradition, with additions following the original style. The first part was built 1883, followed by additions in 1905 and 1912 to designs by Forrester and Lemon.
Architecture OAMARU, TRENT STREET Established in 1887, Waitaki Girls today occupies a largely modern complex of buildings. Still dominating the Thames Street frontage, however, is the former junior school, which opened in 1928 to the design of Forrester and Steenson. Well-known novelist Janet Frame started here in 1935. Since the
The North Otago Museum collects and showcases a variety of artefacts and objects that tell the various natural, cultural, agricultural and industrial stories of the Waitaki District.