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Sunday 5 September: Dunedin Gasworks Museum Open Day Wednesday 8 September: Savoy Afternoon Tea Sunday 19 September: Dunedin Gasworks Museum Open Day |
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Southern Heritage Trust Annual General Meeting |
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The Trust's Annual General Meeting was held at the Temple Gallery, 29 Moray Place, on Monday 19 July, with an attendance of over thirty. including trustees, members and the general public. Among the items of formal business were the re-election of Barry Clarke as Chair for 2010-2011 and the reluctant acceptance of Craig Bush's resignation as trustee in order to concentrate on his business interests. Craig was warmly thanked for his contribution over the past year. The highlight of the meeting was a joint presentation by Glen Hazelton (Dunedin City Council Heritage Planner) and Hayden Cawte (entrepreneur and heritage property investor) on the theme “Rethinking Heritage Advocacy”.
The meering was held in the historic Temple Gallery, by kind permission of the owner Victoria Timpany. The building began life as New Zealand's first Synagogue in 1864, was transformed into a Masonic Hall in 1881, and finally became a Gallery in 1992. |
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Afternoon Teas at the Savoy |
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 The Trust's Event of the Month for June was the Afternoon Tea at the Savoy on Wednesday 16 June. The speaker was Sue More of Broad Bay China, who shared her extensive knowledge of china ware. There was also a quiz identifying bygone objects, and several of those present brought their favourite piece of china for Sue to identify. Once again the Savoy was packed with over 100 people enjoying the occasion.
In bygone days, Dunedin's Savoy was famous for its afternoon teas, lunches and suppers. New Zealanders have always consumed far more tea than even the English, and afternoon tea was a favourite custom. Since the Southern Heritage Trust revived Afternoon Teas at the Savoy nine years ago, many Dunedin people have enjoyed rediscovering a tradition that combines elegance, nostalgia and sociability. Further dates and themes for 2010 are: Wednesday 8 September: A celebration of spring. Music will be be provided by the well known jazz duo of Edgar Frazer on keyboard and Jim Tomlin on guitar, who return by popular request. Wednesday 27 October: Highlights from "The Gondoliers" Wednesday: 1 December: Christmas in art. Afternoon Teas now last for a full two hours from 2.30 to 4.30 p.m. The charge is $20 a head. Reservations are essential: telephone the Savoy on 03 477 4649 and leave a message and your phone number for confirmation. |
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Symbolism of Victorian Cemeteries |
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The Trust's Event of the Month for May was a presentation by Fiona Hyland of Heritage Roses on "The Symbolism of Victorian Cemeteries", with particular reference to Dunedin's Northern Cemetery, the best preserved garden cemetery in New Zealand. This took place in the spacious Skeggs Gallery of the Dunedin Muncipal Chambers on the evening of Thursday 27 May, and more than fifty people turned out on a cold night to hear a fascinating lecture, meticulousy researched, beautifully illustrated and fluently delivered. Several members of the audience confessed that they had no idea that there was so much symbolism to be found in the cemetery, both in the plantings and on the memorials, and everyone learned many fascinating things that they did not know before. |
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The Dunedin Gasworks Museum |
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 The Dunedin Gasworks was in operation from 1863 to 1987. It was New Zealand's first, last and largest gasworks, and used coal from the West Coast to produce gas. It is one of only three remaining town gasworks in the world and is regarded by international experts as the best working example. The Southern Heritage Trust is working closely with the Gasworks Museum Trust and other interested parties to preserve and promote the Gasworks Museum as Dunedin's premier industrial heritage site.
Work continues on the stabilising of the historic Fitting Shop. The two long brick walls have been restored to their original alignment, the foundations have been bolstered, and the building is being internally strengthened to provide better protection against earthquakes. The roof and tiles have also been replaced. There is still work to be done to fit out the inside of the building. The total cost of the Fitting Shop operation is now estimated at $600,000. The Dunedin City Council in its Annual Plan has committed itself to completing the job, though the Gasworks Trust is required to raise more money in addition to the $170,000 already raised. Meanwhile the integrity of the Gasworks site is threatened by the proposal to create a massive new supermarket right on its boundary. The DCC has refused reource consent and Progressive Enterprises have now appealed to the Environment Court.
The Gasworks Museum is open, with the restored Engine Room machinery steamed up, on the first and third Sundays of the month from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. Visitor numbers have increased markedly in the last few months In addition the Museum is open every Tuesday from 10:00 am. to 3:00 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help with open days and other activities. Please contact 03 476 4225. The Gasworks Museum now has a very attractive new website (www.gasworksmuseum.org.nz) with uptodate news and numerous links and interactive features. The website can be accessed directly by clicking the icon at the bottom of this page. |
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Work is proceeding on the Southern Heritage Trust's booklet Dunedin Writers, which will contain brief biographies of the main writers who constitute Dunedin's literary heritage, accompanied by maps of the Dunedin locations with which they can be iassociated. The object is to enable both Dunedin residents and visitors to make a 'literary tour' of Dunedin, divided into a number of areas of the city. This is a companion to the Trust’s audio compilation Hear Our Writers, which was launched at the Dunedin Heritage Festival in March 2009. This features introductions to and readings from eleven writers who are associated with Dunedin. The readers include Hone Tuwhare, Roger Hall and Cilla McQueen reading selections from their own works.
The files can be downloaded from this website free of charge (go to Dunedin Writers on the top menu) and are also available on CD at a cost of $5.00. The CD can be bought in person at the Sexton’s Cottage or ordered by email (see the Contact Us menu); there will be a small extra charge for postage and packing where applicable.
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Otago Harbour Heritage Trails |
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The Southern Heritage Trust's two Otago Harbour Heritage Trails, which were launched last year, have been widely acclaimed. One covers the Port Side of the Harbour and the other the Peninsula. Both contain heritage information on the various sites, researched by Carol Robinson, and attractive detailed maps designed by Allan Kynaston.
Copies of the trail brochures are available from Southern Heritage Trust, the Dunedin i-Site, the Dunedin Railway Station and other outlets at a retail price of $2.00. For generous wholesale rates please apply to Southern Heritage Trust (03 479 0169). |
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The former Dunedin Prison, built in 1896, was decommissioned in 2007 following the opening of the new Corrections Facility at Milton. The Southern Heritage Trust has been active in stimulating debate about the future of the building, which has a Category 1 classification with the NZ Historic Places Trust. Informal discussions are now under way involving the Dunedin City Council, Ngai Tahu, the Historic Places Trust and the Southern Heritage Trust The building will be offered to Ngai Tahu, who have the right of first refusal of government property; it is understood that they have no interest in developing the property themselves but are willing to enter into a partnership with the Dunedin City Council for mutual benefit. One possible use that the Southern Heritage Trust is keen to explore is the creation of a National Prison Museum.
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