Dunedin’s historic heritage, such as local cemeteries and machinery, and 150-year-old Port Otago will be celebrated during this month’s Ōtepoti Dunedin Heritage Festival.
Featuring more than 50 events across the month, the two-yearly festival has been run for many years by the Southern Heritage Trust, supported by a dedicated group of volunteers.
Southern Heritage Trust chairman and festival co-ordinator Jonathan Cweorth said Otago and Dunedin had more heritage structures still standing than any other region in New Zealand, so it made sense there was an outlet for all those who shared their passion.
The festival’s tagline, "Precious Cargo", referred to the vital importance of carrying the city’s heritage into its future, and was also a nod to the upcoming 150th anniversary celebrations of Port Otago set to take place on October 28 (Labour Day), which would include an open day, he said.
Because of that and the official reopening of the redeveloped Port Chalmers Maritime Museum, set to be held on Saturday, October 19, at 12.30pm, Port Chalmers was a focal point of the festival.
In an associated event, Port Chalmers Library will host a dramatic reading of Lewis Carrol’s The Hunting of The Snark at 1pm.
The reading is to be accompanied by live music from Rare Byrds.
"Port Otago has been an integral part of the city throughout its history, so we are excited to be able to join in its celebrations during the festival," Mr Cweorth said.
Among the many other historic sites across Dunedin to be in the spotlight during the Ōtepoti Dunedin Heritage Festival will be the Northern and Southern Cemeteries — which will host several "Haunted Heritage" night tours — as well as the city’s 1865 shoreline, Dunedin Railway Station, Outram Historical Park and the Hocken Collections.
The Dunedin Gasworks Museum will pay its own tribute to industrial history with special screenings of pioneering 1927 science-fiction film Metropolis on October 19 and 20, while the popular Dunedin Tweed Ride will depart Dunedin Railway Station at 10am on October 20.
A Repair Station, to be held on October 27, 11am-3pm, in the former Veggie Boys Store, 278 Great King St, will provide expert help for people who are wanting to repair broken appliances, old tech and clothing.
A programme of talks will also feature during the heritage festival, including the "Ryman Healthcare Heritage Bytes" evening, during which experts will offer short and fascinating insights on Friday, October 11, 6.30pm, at the Otago Art Society galleries, Dunedin Railway Station.
• A printed programme for the Ōtepoti Dunedin Heritage Festival is available now, or for a comprehensive list of events, visit www.southernheritage.org.nz/heritage-festival-2024
