The spot where an early Dunedin building once stood is part of the story being told in this year's Dunedin Heritage Festival, 1865 Dunedin, as Ann Barsby reports.
Edinburgh House began life as a bond store, where imported goods were kept prior to the payment of the appropriate duties.
It was completed in 1865, the year in which Dunedin was first constituted a city, the year which is being specially commemorated in the 1865 Dunedin Heritage Festival.
The building was situated in Bond St on early reclamation land on the harbour's edge near the jetties and occupied a whole block, with imposing architectural features on all its four sides.
Standing alone in all its glory on the waterfront, it was an impressive sight from the harbour until further reclamation in the 1880s led to its being surrounded by further structures.
The architect was William Clayton, who had come to Dunedin from Tasmania in 1863 and had gone into partnership in 1864 with William Mason, who was to become the first Mayor of Dunedin in 1865.
Clayton was responsible for a number of early Dunedin buildings, including the Masonic Hall in Moray Pl and All Saints Church, which was also built in 1865.
The name was changed to Edinburgh House when the bond store was sold in 1927.
The building was demolished amid much public debate in 1983 after 118 years of existence.
Imagine its possible uses today if it had been allowed to live on!In the early days, the upper floor of Edinburgh House was often used for social occasions.
It will no doubt feature in Lois Galer's intriguingly titled Lawson Lecture ''Putting the Social into Otago's Built Heritage'', which will be delivered on Sunday, August 30, as the culminating event of the heritage festival.
The curious can follow the original 1865 shoreline in the new Shoreline Trail and guided walk, which have been developed for the festival.
• Ann Barsby is a trustee of the Southern Heritage Trust.
The festival
• For further details on the 1865 Dunedin Heritage Festival go to www.heritagefestival.org.nz or pick up a brochure from Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, DCC i-Site or Customer Services.
• The festival runs from Friday, August 28 to Sunday, August 30.
