Dunedin

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3.04.2007 Dunedin, New Zealand

Dunedin is South Island’s 2^nd largest city, after Christchurch. It was envisioned by its Scotch founders as the “Edinburough of the South”. While Christchurch is strongly Episcopalian, Dunedin is strongly Presbyterian. It’s scotish heritage is evoked in street names and the sturdy appeal of it’s sturdy buildings. The city prospered after gold was discovered in Central Otego in the 1860’s.This resulted in making Dunedin the wealthiest and most influential town in Victorian New Zealand. Today it is an educational center boasting the second largest university in NZ- The University.of Otega 1869, Otago Boy’s High School 1869, Otega Girl’s School 1871 and the country’s first medical school. Dunedin also boasts of having the steepest city street in the world including Lombard St. in San Francisco.

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The West’s and the Wallace’s chose to tour Dunedin in a chauffeured heritage 1960 Jaguar-one of the tours offered. Our driver, Bill was delightful and knowledgeable. Departing Port Chalmers- seven miles from city center, we drove up along the lovely bay to a viewpoint overlooking the bay and the city. Once in the city we past the beautiful architecture of the University that reminded Don of Princeton and the impressive architecture piece, the old Railroad Station. We then had time to visit the exhibits in The Otago Settlers Museum which helped us understand the local history. We then had a tour of Specight’s Brewery that has been in operation for almost 150 years. Of course we had to try the product in several variations. The final stop was a tour of Ovelston- a 35 room showcase of Edwardian grandeur completed in 1906. It was built by a wealthy well traveled businessman who loved to collect lovely things from around the world to decorate the house. He and his wife were survived by an unmarried daughter who left the entire property to the city at her death in 1966. Viewers can now tour the house as it was furnished when it was lived in with nothing having been changed.