OAMARU'S VICTORIAN PRECINCT

Oamaru’s Old Precinct

The name Oamaru apparently derives from Maori words meaning the place of Maru, a Maori war god. This small town, located on the east coast of the South Island has one of the few natural harbors along the coast and was a perfect location for Maori who had several fortified settlements in the area before the arrival of James Cook in 1770.  The gold rush of 1860s became the source of Oamaru’s early wealth. The town’s past rich maritime history can still be seen at the old harbour where the structures have remained intact over the years and this is one of the reasons why I love to take our travelers for a morning or afternoon before continuing on to Dunedin or the McKenzie basin. 

 To me, Oamaru is a perfect example of the many towns in the country that have retained a true slice of what New Zealand was and tries it’s best to attract visitors to stop and spend time in the area. It’s so different from the busy and tourist packed centers of Queenstown, Rotorua or Tekapo and I can see the effect on our travelers when they wander quietly around the old district on their own, quietly and get a feel for this place and it’s history.

 The highlight is the Victorian Precinct, the original commercial and business district of Oamaru that served as the focal point for trade through the port. The historical buildings consisted of large grain and seed warehouses which served the prosperous agricultural sector in the district during the later part of the 19th century. The buildings were built mostly between 1860s to1880s and are today New Zealand’s most complete streetscape of Victorian commercial buildings. So much so that the whole district has been used many times for film sets and, together with the Dunedin precinct which features buildings of the same era and same style, attracts film productions from overseas. The latest was the upcoming movie “Power of the Dog” directed by Oscar winner kiwi director Jane Campion with Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst.

The buildings are constructed of locally quarried limestone which is known around the country as Oamaru stone or white stone, a hard, compact limestone quarried nearby. The whole area is managed by a trust working at assisting tenants to occupy these buildings. My favourite is an amazing bookshop and there are several cafes, clothing store and craft shops. The whole city comes alive for it’s annual Victorian Heritage festival and the Harbour Street Jazz festival. 

LITTLE KNOWN FACT:

Oamaru holds an annual steampunk festival, a genre of science fiction that has a historical setting and features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology. Many locals dress up for this very unique festival.

BEST MONTH TO VISIT:

All year 

Longitude 80 offers several itineraries across New Zealand and we make a point of stopping in Oamaru to soak up the atmosphere. Contact us if you want to start planning your New Zealand adventure for 2022 or 2023.