Dunedin Heritage Fund

The Dunedin Heritage Fund is a contestable grant fund administered by Dunedin City Council and Heritage New Zealand. The fund supports the conservation and continued use of the City’s key heritage places.

Funding round dates

The next funding round closes: 31 July 2026

The Heritage Fund has four funding rounds per year. The upcoming closing dates are

31 October 2026
31 January 2027
30 April 2027

You can also make an application for emergency works at any time.

Grants from our most recent funding round

Plato, Central Dunedin

A $10,000 grant went towards the exterior repainting of this significant 1960s building.

Designed by Dunedin architect John Allingham, this modernist two-storey building was built for the British Sailors Society in 1961. It provided sailors’ accommodation alongside a chapel, games room, and lunch bar. In 1967, a ground-floor dining room and upper-level manager’s accommodation with a roof terrace was added. It is a reminder of the port’s significance to Dunedin’s history. The building has been occupied by Plato Restaurant since 2002.

152 School Road North, Mosgiel

A $5,000 grant went towards the reroofing of this significant early Taieri residence.

The Duddingston house, a two-storey brick cottage, was constructed in 1865 for David Oughton. One of the first Pākehā to settle on the Taieri Plains, Mr Oughton first named the house Boghead. About 80,000 bricks were used to build the house and purchased from the neighbouring Salisbury Estate where Donald Reid had fired them in his own kiln. In 1900, Robert Smellie bought the property. He changed the name of the property to Duddingston after the Loch near Edinburgh in Scotland. Mr Smellie died soon after his purchase and one of his descendants, Arthur Smellie, moved into the cottage with his new wife in 1909. The Smellies’ descendants owned the property until the 1980s.

23 King George Memorial Drive, Outram

A $10,000 grant went towards the exterior timber repairs and repainting of the former Berwick Church.

Presbyterian worship at Berwick began in the late 1850s with services first held in James Henderson’s kitchen, and later at the district hall. It was not until 1923 that construction of the Berwick Church began. Built within the year by Mr Bragg from Henley, the church was opened on 2 December 1923. Dunedin architect Eric Miller designed the weatherboard church. It closed in April 1995, and was later relocated to the Taieri Historical Park in 1997.

Caversham Church, Caversham

An $11,000 grant went towards commissioning a fire engineer’s report and measured drawings for the significant suburban church.

The striking Caversham Presbyterian Church was designed by architect Thomas Bedford Cameron. The landmark church was built in 1882 with bluestone with contrasting Oamaru stone facings. The church has provided a place of worship for over 130 years, and was recently purchased by the Dunedin Samoan Methodist Church.

Excelsior Hotel (former), Central Dunedin

A $15,000 grant went towards a condition assessment and prioritised work schedule for this prominent corner building.

Built using brick and plaster, the Excelsior Hotel was designed in the Victorian Renaissance Revival style by Robert Forrest in 1887. A decade later, in 1898, further additions were made to the building including two stunning light wells and more fire escapes. Another extension, designed by Mr E Walden, was added to the building in 1924. After further renovations in the 1930s, the Excelsior Hotel became one of the most grand and modern hotels in the dominion. The hotel has since been converted to apartments.

11 Russell Road, Seacliff

A $20,000 grant went towards the reroofing of this historic school.

Seacliff School opened in 1878 on a site slightly downhill from its current location, and operated until 1988 when it was closed down. To address dampness and shading, the school building was shifted to its current location and a second classroom was added around 1904. It is one of the key buildings in the Seacliff township. The school retains its library, grounds, and shelter sheds. The school has been used as a residence since 1997.

9 Arden Street, North East Valley

A $5,000 grant went towards the cost of exterior masonry repairs at Knox College.

In 1876, the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland opened a Theological Hall for ministers in the home of its first professor Reverend Dr William Salmond. Early in the 20th century, it acquired the Ōpoho site with plans to re-house the seminary and provide accommodation for its students and others attending the University of Otago. In 1906, the Synod conducted an architectural competition for the design of the college building and was won by 21-year-old William Gray Young of Wellington. The foundation stone was laid on 6 April 1908, and the building was opened on 23 June 1909.

Former McCarthys Buildings Central Dunedin

McCarthy's Buildings (former), Central Dunedin

A $20,000 grant went towards essential repairs to the verandah of this prominent Edwardian commercial building.

This building was erected in 1907 for the hunting and fishing firm A&W McCarthy Limited. It was designed by the Dunedin architectural partnership Walden and Barton. It is one of Dunedin and Otago’s larger Edwardian commercial buildings and remains an excellent example of this type from that era. Its appearance remains largely unaltered since its construction.

St Joseph's Cathedral, Central Dunedin

A $45,000 grant went towards the commissioning of structural and seismic reports for this landmark cathedral.

In 1868, Bishop Moreau purchased the land on which the present cathedral now stands. However, it was not until ten years later in 1878 that construction of the cathedral began. Prominent Dunedin architect FW Petre designed the building, while local construction firm Parker and McNamara was the principal contractor for the £22,500 cathedral. The foundation stone was laid on 26 January 1879, and the cathedral opened on 14 February 1886.

33 Russell Street, Central Dunedin

A $20,000 grant went towards the seismic strengthening of this 1920s former shop.

This combined ground-floor corner store with a dwelling above was built in 1923 for storekeeper J Airey. There had been a store on this site since the 1860s, associated with George Dryden, who built many of the properties in the area. The shop was converted to residential use in 2009. The current owners are converting the ground-floor back to commercial use by developing it into a café. The building is a survivor of the small businesses and shops that operated in the city rise area.

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Applying for funding

Before applying for funding, we recommend contacting the DCC Heritage Advisor by phone on 03 477 4000 or email heritage@dcc.govt.nz to discuss your project.

Download your application form and submit before the next closing date.

Email	heritage@dcc.govt.nz
Post	PO Box 5045 Dunedin 9054
In person	Deliver to the Customer Services Counter, 50 The Octagon, Dunedin Central

Important Information:

You cannot apply for funding for work that has already been started or completed.
The GST portion of the project cost is not eligible for funding.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Am I eligible to apply?
If you own a historic place, you are likely eligible to apply.
- Refer to Section A on Page 8 of the application form.
What works can I apply for?
The Dunedin Heritage Fund can provide grants for a wide range of works that contribute to conserving, upgrading, and retaining historic places.
- Refer to Section B on Page 8 of the application form.
How are applications prioritised?
Applications are prioritised by the significance of the place and of the works. The criteria are outlined in the application form.
- Refer to Section C on Page 8 of the application form.
Can someone help me with my application?

A DCC Heritage Advisor is available to help you with planning your application and completing the application form. They can make an appointment to visit you at your property. Please contact them on 03 477 4000 or heritage@dcc.govt.nz.
Where else can I apply for funding?
Where you can get funding depends on who owns the place.
Funding for private owners
If you are a private owner (a company or individual) and your property is listed with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga or of equivalent significance, you can apply to the National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund.
The National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund provides grants to encourage the conservation of nationally significant heritage places in private ownership. The fund prioritises places of national significance which need conservation work.
For more information, visit Heritage New Zealand’s website.
Funding for incorporated societies or charitable trusts
For entities such as incorporated societies or charitable trusts, there are several places you can approach for funding:
Each funder will have their own requirements. We recommend you contact funders directly to check if your project is eligible.
If you are an organisation that offers funding for the conservation of historic places, and you would like to be listed on this page, contact us at heritage@dcc.govt.nz.

Dunedin Heritage Fund

Funding round dates

Grants from our most recent funding round

Plato, Central Dunedin

152 School Road North, Mosgiel

23 King George Memorial Drive, Outram

Caversham Church, Caversham

Excelsior Hotel (former), Central Dunedin

11 Russell Road, Seacliff

9 Arden Street, North East Valley

McCarthy's Buildings (former), Central Dunedin

St Joseph's Cathedral, Central Dunedin

33 Russell Street, Central Dunedin

Applying for funding

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Am I eligible to apply?

What works can I apply for?

How are applications prioritised?

Can someone help me with my application?

Where else can I apply for funding?

Projects recently supported by the Dunedin Heritage Fund

Dunedin Heritage Fund grants 2026

Dunedin Heritage Fund grants 2025

Dunedin Heritage Fund grants 2024

Dunedin Heritage Fund grants 2023

Dunedin Heritage Fund grants 2022