Since 1994, the town's Victorian precinct in Harbour and Tyne Sts has been recognised, but as of today the expanded Oamaru Historic Area on Heritage New Zealand's list includes much of the central business district, taking in parts of Harbour, Tyne, Itchen, Wansbeck, Tees, Severn, Meek, Medway, Coquet, Wear and Thames Sts.
''It's a major change, of enormous historical significance,'' Cr Garvan said this week. ''It's not just about two streets named Harbour and Tyne - there's a lot more to it than that.''
And while he expected the recognition of the area's built heritage to benefit tourism in the area, he said the Waitaki District Council's district plan, now under review, had never included the historic area but could now.
''The crucial aspect of this is 'Will council adopt it as part of the district plan review and put it in?' It's crucial,'' Cr Garvan said.
As Heritage New Zealand developed its list of national landmarks, ''Oamaru and its surrounds have an excellent chance of being in that list''.
Heritage New Zealand Otago Southland heritage adviser Jane O'Dea, of Dunedin, said the expanded area on Heritage New Zealand's list represented a ''remarkable concentration of significant Victorian and Edwardian heritage, with some outstanding examples ... ''
Seven category 1 historic places in the Thames St area were added to the list.
Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust operations manager Dr Mark Smith said
he was impressed by Heather Bauchop's 127-page review report and ''the vision of Heritage New Zealand''.
''It strengthens our efforts to get these buildings preserved - because recognition is the first step of preservation.''
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said district residents should be proud of Oamaru's collection of buildings, which encouraged visitors to visit the area.
While the Heritage New Zealand listing included ''an encouragement to keep the character of the buildings ... [owners] can still adapt them for modern uses''.
''That's the best thing to make sure that they do survive into the future, rather than just saying they have to stay exactly the way that they have been.''
The Oamaru Harbour Historic Area is also on the Heritage New Zealand list.
