Dunedin and its Heritage Architecture
Of all New Zealand cities, Dunedin can boast the largest concentration of Victorian and Edwardian buildings. This is mainly due to its rapid growth before and just after the turn of the century and its slower growth rate since. Settled largely by the Scottish immigrants under the Lay Association of the Free Church of Scotland in 1848, Dunedin was slow to prosper initially. It was not until the discovery of gold in Central Otago in the 1860s that a city of the size and consequence you see today began to grow. Several decades later, saw it rise to become the country's leading commercial and industrial centre. Trace the roots of New Zealand's biggest manufacturers, importers, commercial and transport firms today and you will find many had their origins here.Dunedin is also New Zealand's first University City, with educational buildings and traditions that are still the envy of the country. Fortuitously, the mid to late Victorian period of Dunedin's growth and prosperity coincided with an exciting era in the history of architecture, with revivals of Gothic, Italianate, Palladian and Georgian forms to name a few. Readily available building materials such as Leith Valley andesite and Port Chalmers bluestone, combined with "white stone" from North Otago and locally kilned bricks, complemented these forms handsomely, as well as helped reinforce the settlers' aspirations for Dunedin as the "Edinburgh of the South".
Although much of Dunedin's early prosperity later headed northwards, much of the city's solidly built heritage remains to gain renewed appreciation more than a hundred years on.
Historical Homes
History of Hilltop On High Street
433 High Street was built in 1904 for Watchmaker and Jeweller Mr Shaw. The house was designed by the architectural firm of Salmond and Lawson. As with many formerly gracious old homes 433 High Street lost most of its good looks when it was converted into flats. It was thankfully restored in 1992, with many but not all original features being reinstated. Rodney purchased Hilltop in July 2004 and continues to upgrade the house and landscape the garden.Arthur John Shaw
433 High Street was built for a noteable watchmaker of the day Mr Arthur John Shaw. Mr Shaw was born in Bristol in 1859, and came to New Zealand in 1863. He served an apprenticeship as a watchmaker, jeweller and optician. Mr Shaw earned a reputation second to none in the colonies for repairing and cleaning chronometers, chronographs, and repeaters. He was initiated into the Masonic Order in Lodge Otago Kilwinning. Mr Shaw was married in 1885 and had three daughters.
James Louis Salmond
Salmond who is the architect for 433 High Street was the son of a reverend, Dr W .Salmond, Professor of Theology at the Theological Hall in Dunedin. Born in 1868 in North Shields England he accompanied his parents to Port Chalmers in 1875. He was educated at Otago Boys High School and served his term as an architect under the renowned architect R A Lawson, who designed and built many of the churches and important public buildings in Dunedin. After serving for a couple of years with local architects he established his own firm. Salmond specialised in private houses of which there are a considerable amount in and around Dunedin. He also designed over twenty churches in Otago and other public buildings. His work is described as sober and solid and his styles are of revived influences of the time such as Gothic, Classical and Baroque. Where his buildings lack in flamboyance they make up in good proportions, sound construction and dignity.
Robert Arthur Lawson
Born in 1833, Lawson was one of New Zealand's pre-eminent 19th century architects. It has been said he did more than any other designer to shape the face of New Zealand's Victorian cities, especially Dunedin. He is the architect of over forty churches, including First Church for which he is best remembered, but also other buildings, such as Larnach Castle, a country house, with which he was also associated.
Born at Newburgh, in Fife, Scotland, he emigrated in 1854 to Australia and then in 1862 to New Zealand. Lawson is acclaimed for his work in both the Gothic revival and classical styles of architecture. He was prolific, and while isolated buildings remain in Scotland and Australia, it is in the Dunedin area that most surviving examples can now be found.
Today he is held in high esteem in his adopted country. However, at the time of his death his reputation and architectural skills were still held in contempt by many following the partial collapse of his Seacliff Lunatic Asylum, at the time New Zealand's largest building.
In 1900, at the age of 67, Lawson came out of his ten-year-long self-imposed exile from New Zealand and returned to Dunedin. Here he entered into practice with his former pupil J.Louis Salmond. A number of commercial and residential buildings were erected under their joint names, including the brick house known as "Threave" built for Watson Shennan at 367 High Street. This is one of Lawson's last works. Threave has particularly ornate carved verandahs in the Gothic style, but is today better known for its gardens than architecture. The Lawson–Salmond partnership would not last long. In 1902 Lawson died suddenly at Pleasant Point, Canterbury. By the time of his death he had begun to re-establish his reputation, having been elected vice-president of the Otago Institute of Architects.
The great plaudits denied him in his lifetime were not to come until nearly a century after his death, when the glories of Victorian architecture began again to be recognised and appreciated.
Noteable buildings that can be seen in Dunedin are:
First Church
Union Bank of Australasia
Municipal Chambers
Trinity Wesleyan Church
Otago Boys’ High School
Park’s School
Knox Church
Larnach Castle
Seacliff Lunatic Asylum
Lawson was to pass away before Hilltop was completed. After Lawson’s death Salmond continued with the architectural firm which has continued on to this day by his grandson.
Other Historical Homes of Dunedin
Larnach Castle
New Zealand's only "castle" was constructed in many stages between 1871 and 1887 for William Larnach, an important political figure and former Minister of Mines. His reign at the castle ended when he took his life in Parliament House in 1898. The great house is now a tourist attraction and is open daily for visitors.
This Jacobean-style mansion was designed by British architect Sir Ernest George for David Theomin, a Dunedin importer, and built 1904-06. Its exterior walls are brick and plaster, with a Moeraki gravel finish and faced with Oamaru stone. The house and its contents were bequeathed to the city by Miss Dorothy Theomin in 1966. Olveston is open to the public.