Road name register

New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax - an important native plant with long, stiff, upright leaves and dull red flowers. Found on lowland swamps throughout Aotearoa. It has straight, upright seed pods. This is a general name for the harakeke leaf and the plant itself, but each different variety has its own name.

Rachelina (Rachel) Hepburn Armitage (née Stewart) 1873-1955, was an active social worker and community leader supporting many causes for women’s and children’s welfare, including the Plunket Society. Rachel attended Otago Girls' High School in Dunedin and moved later to England to study. She became the first New Zealand woman to complete a BA course at The University of Oxford in 1896. While living in England, she worked improving the education and welfare of working-class women and children in London. Returning to New Zealand in 1903, she moved to South Canterbury and continued her community work, founding a local branch of the New Zealand Federation of Women's Institutes in Temuka. She later became a leading campaigner for the Plunket Society in rural Canterbury and became president of the Temuka branch of the Plunket Society from 1941 to 1928.

Yvette Winifred Corlett (née Williams) 1929-2019, was a recognised track-and-field athlete. Yvette was the first woman from New Zealand to win an Olympic gold medal and to hold the world record in the women's long jump. She was twice named the New Zealand sportsperson of the Year (1950, 1952). In the 1953 'New Year Honours', she was made a 'Member of the Order of the British Empire' for services in women's athletics. In 1987, she was named "Athlete of the Century" on the 100th anniversary of Athletics New Zealand. In 2000, she was voted Otago Sportsperson of the Century and appointed as a 'Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit' for services to athletics in 2011. In 2019, at Queen's Birthday Honours, Williams was posthumously promoted to 'Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit' for services to athletics.

Margaret Cruickshank (1873-1918) was one of two twins born in Palmerston, Otago. After their mother's death in 1883 the twins attended school on alternate days so one could stay home to care for the five younger children in the family. In the evening the other taught her twin what she had learnt that day. Margaret went to Otago Girls' High School, where she was joint dux with her sister. Margaret attended the University of Otago Medical School. In 1897, she became the second woman in New Zealand to complete a medical course and the first registered woman doctor. During the First World War, Margaret ran the medical practice she worked for in Waimate, and shared the role as hospital superintendent. She was known for her dedication to her patients, particularly when the 1918 influenza pandemic struck.

Maria Hayward (née Eyre) (1870-1966) was an active member of the Dunedin community who became involved in patriotic work supporting the war effort. She was vice-president of the Otago and Southland Women’s Patriotic Association during the First World War and was awarded a Belgian Legion of Honour medal in 1916 (Médaille de la Reine Elisabeth) for her work with refugees in the city during the war. Maria Hayward was one of the first women bowlers in New Zealand after the end of World War I and she also took a leading part in women’s bowling administration in Otago.

Mary Emelia Moore (1869–1951) was a Dunedin missionary working in China in a mission originally established in 1878. She was based in China for 51 years. Her mission was forced to close several times, but she returned to China where she and her colleague, opened a girls' boarding school that became an industrial training school for young women. Despite the political turmoil of the next 20 years, the number of women seeking education grew. She continued with the mission until 1932, when she retired at the age of 63. Once her regular mission ended, she continued her own refuge in Yichang, where she worked supporting women and children as well as the poor and disabled people. She was evacuated back to New Zealand between 1948 to 1950. Her donation of more than 100 articles from China laid the foundation of a Chinese collection at the Otago Museum.

Harriet Morison (1862-1925) was a tailoress, suffragist and union leader. In 1889 Harriet became the vice president of the first organisation to represent female workers, the 'Tailoresses' Union of New Zealand'. In 1890 she took over the position of secretary of the same union. Although she was initially focused on improving conditions of working women in factories, her activities also aimed to achieve pay equity for home, care and support workers. She had great influence in mobilising working-class women to sign the 1892 suffrage petition in New Zealand. She is one of the six figures honoured in the Kate Sheppard National Memorial in Christchurch, unveiled in 1993 on the 100th anniversary of suffrage in New Zealand.

Catherine (Kate) Redmayne (1825-1869) was a musician and music teacher who was known as the first female to make a livelihood from giving piano concerts throughout the southern region of New Zealand. She travelled through difficult terrain to perform from her Dunedin base during the late 1850s and early 1860s. She composed several works and had four poems published in the Otago Calendar. After a visit to England in 1864, she returned to perform in the North Island and top of the South Island before settling on the West Coast where she died in childbirth in 1869.

Rachel Selina Reynolds (née Pinkerton) (1838-1928) was an active social worker and community leader in a wide range of social justice causes involving access of women to education, provision of welfare services to poor and needy people as well as being active in the women's suffrage movement. In the 1860s she lobbied for the establishment of a girls' secondary school, resulting in the opening of Otago Girls' High School in 1871. She was also active in encouraging the University of Otago to admit women students, a goal that was realised in 1871. She ran projects providing welfare services to poor and needy people, devoting a large amount of time addressing the needs of women and children. Her work lead to the opening of New Zealand's first free kindergarten in 1889 and she later became president of the Dunedin Free Kindergarten Association. In the 1880s and early 1890s, Rachel was active in the women's suffrage movement and became vice-president of a women's franchise league formed in Dunedin in 1892, which provided a non-temperance lobby in favour of women's vote.

Eileen Louise Service (1900-1989) was an author in the Otago region. She was first an editor of the Otago Daily Times in the 1920s and later became an associate editor for the Otago Witness until 1932. While accompanying her husband (Frederick George Soper) in his wartime responsibilities, she fulfilled the position of Otago provincial commissioner for the Girl Guides Association between 1941 and 1954 and became the first president of the new Otago University Staff Wives' Association in 1948. When her husband was appointed vice chancellor of the University of Otago in 1953, Eileen acted as hostess for the university. Her five writing pieces depict the society and life of women at the time. 'The Otago of our mothers' and 'Young Jane' were followed by her memoirs, published in three separate volumes 'The green years', 'The month of the brittle star' and 'The leaves turn’.

Mary Ann Wellbourn (née Smith) (1835-1918) emigrated from England with her parents and settled at Broad Bay on the Otago Peninsula. Demonstrating courage and spirit of adventure she travelled to the Otago goldfields in support of furthering her family's prospects. Mary Ann provided support to her extended family along with supporting the advancement of women’s rights int he community, work that was evidenced later on by her signing the suffrage petition. She is buried alongside her parents and husband in the family grave at Broad Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

(1873-1959).  Businessman and founder of the Arthur Barnett chain of department stores.  Born in Dunedin, he opened his first shop in 1903 and within 10 years had one of the largest shops in the South Island.  He was also a noted philanthropist and was awarded the OBE in 1951.

Dr McAllister worked in the Mosgiel/Taieri area for 50 years, especially in Maternity and Sports Medicine.

Prominent eye surgeon who was born and trained in Dunedin. Founded the Fred Hollows Foundation.

(1832/3 -1883) Architect. Born in London, he moved to New Zealand in 1852. He trained in Melbourne as an architect, and returned to Dunedin in 1862. He was employed by the Provincial Council as a draughtsman, before returning to private practice in 1864. He was responsible for many buildings in Australia and New Zealand, especially in Christchurch. His crowning glory was the BNZ building on the corner of Princes and Rattray Streets, begun in 1879. He did not live to see it completed, but is reputed to be the most expensive building built in Dunedin for more than 100 years.

(1874-1948). Architect. Born in England, but emigrated to Dunedin as a baby. From 1901-1906 he travelled widely in the US and trained as an architect. On his return to Dunedin he designed many buildings for Otago University, several churches and the buildings for the NZ and South Seas International Exhibition 1925-26. He later moved to Wellington and continued his work there until his death.

Bookseller and Mayor. Born in England, his family emigrated to Australia in 1852 and then to Dunedin in 1860. He married in 1872 and had between 16 and 22 children. He opened a bookshop in 1863, eventually opening “Braithwaite's Book Arcade” on Princes Street in 1883. He was elected as a Councillor in 1901 and 1903 and elected unopposed as Mayor in 1905, serving only a single term.

The Brennan Family of Upper Junction lost four sons in World War I. Adolphus (Wellington, 1915), William (Somme, 1916), John (Ypres 1917) and Richard (Le Cateau 1918)

The Crockett Family of Roslyn lost three Sons in World War I. Joseph (Gallipoli, 1915), Charles (Somme, 1916) and John (Ypres, 1917).

(1852-1923). Born in Scotland. He was first elected to Council in 1885 and in 1887 was elected mayor for a single term. In 1892 he was again elected to Council. He served as the Member of Parliament for Dunedin Suburbs from 1890-1893.

Prominent Dunedin Businessman he was elected to Council in 1897 and was mayor in 1901-02.

The Dunford Family of Andersons Bay lost three sons during World War I. Patrick (Ypres, 1917), James (Egypt, 1918) and Thomas (Dunedin, 1918 of wounds sustained at Messines 1917).

(1835-1905) Born in Germany, in 1857 he went to the Australian goldfields, before moving to New Zealand in 1863. He opened stores and farmed in Central Otago, and was Mayor of Queenstown from 1869-72, after which he elected to the Otago Provincial Council (1872-75) and then the House of Representatives (1872-73). He moved to Dunedin and in 1873 he opened a clothing factory and soon after his first store (on the corner of The Octagon and Princes Street). In 1884 he was one of the founders of the DIC retail chain. He was prominent in the formation of the union movement and was known for his generosity and enlightened attitude as an employer.

(1838-1901). Born in Tasmania, he arrived in Dunedin in 1859. As a businessman in Palmerston in the 1870’s and 80’s he was elected Mayor of that borough five times. Later settling in Dunedin, he was elected to Council and served as Mayor in 1892-93.

(1900-1960). Born in Dunedin, he studied medicine at the University of Otago. In 1924 he was awarded a fellowship to the Mayo Clinic in the US, and in 1930 moved to London, England. In 1938 he was appointed consultant in plastic surgery to the Royal Air Force. During World War II he proved to be a brilliant plastic surgeon, pioneering many new techniques and is considered one of the founding fathers of modern plastic surgery.

(1837-1911). Born in England, he emigrated to Australia in 1856 and on to Dunedin in 1862. He worked for the Provincial Government as a draughtsman and then had a private practice as an engineer and architect. In 1866 he was appointed to City Surveyor, in which capacity he was responsible for the city’s drainage, and water supply schemes. He was also responsible for cemeteries, reserves and the forming of many of Dunedin’s streets. He retired in 1901

(?-1885). Dunedin’s first inspector of nuisances in 1861, he was responsible for keeping Dunedin streets free of filth, as well as the repair and lighting of the street lamps. He was also a policeman and could thus prosecute people.

(1865-1935). Born in Oamaru, he was the son of Henry Shacklock, the founder of the engineering firm. John was, in turn, a senior partner in the Shacklock company. He was Mayor of South Dunedin in 1904 (and a councillor for six years), Mayor of Dunedin in 1914-15 and was Chairman of the Council’s Power and Lighting Committee for thirteen years.

(1875-1932). Born in South Australia, he came to Dunedin in 1893. He was involved in the shipping, stevedoring and insurance industries. He represented Dunedin North in Parliament 1925-28 for the Reform Party. He was a Councillor 1907-1911 and again from 1921, he was Mayor from 1923-27.

(1879-1958). He was MP for Dunedin South 1928-1931 for the United Party, holding several ministerial positions. He was one of Dunedin’s longest serving Councillor’s and Mayor 1927-29.

(1863-1941). Architect, Engineer & statesman. He gained the nickname of “Gingerbread George” for his most famous design, the Dunedin Railway Station (1906). He was the first official architect of the NZ Railways. Born in London, he emigrated in NZ in 1884 and studied at the Otago School of Mines, joining the railways department in 1886 and retired in 1925. Mayor of Wellington in 1927-1931 and knighted in 1937.

Waddell, James (1873-1954). New Zealand’s most highly decorated World War one soldier. Born in Dunedin and educated at Otago Boys’ High School. He was the first New Zealander to gain a commission into the British Army and suffered some prejudice for his colonial origins. In India he married a French woman and with her help gained a (highly unusual) direct commission as an officer in the French Foreign Legion in 1900. During World War One he was awarded the Croix de Guerre seven times (the first at Gallipoli). In 1920 he was made Commandeur de la Legion d’honneur. He retired in 1926 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and lived in North Africa until returning to New Zealand in 1954.

(1860? – 1942).  Awarded the Belgian Queen Elisabeth Medal during World War I.  The Queen Elisabeth Medal was created in 1915 to recognise exceptional services in aiding Belgian refugees.

(1917-1974).  Marine Biologist and University Lecturer.  Born in Dunedin, Elizabeth studied science at Otago University from 1936, graduating with first class honours in Botany (1940) and Zoology (1941).  Her interest in Marine Biology developed during the war years and in 1945 she went to England, gaining a Cambridge Doctorate in 1948.  She returned to Dunedin in 1950 and revived the Portobello marine station and worked there until shortly before her death in 1974.

(1885-1957).  Geologist.  Born in England, Benson studied geology at the Universities of Tasmania, Sydney (1905-07) and Oxford (1911-14).  In 1917 he became Chair of Geology and Mineralogy at Otago University and stayed until 1951.  For the first nine years he was the only lecturer in the Geology Department.  During his lifetime he published over 100 papers and was awarded the Lyell Medal in 1939 and the Clark Medal in 1945, as well as many other awards.  Between 1945 & 1947 he was president of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

(1909-1973).  Poet and founder of the ‘Landfall’ journal.  Born in Dunedin, he went to Oxford in the 1920s before returning to Dunedin in 1931.  He travelled widely in the 1930s and served in the Britain during WW2.  He returned to Dunedin in 1946 and founded ’Landfall’ in 1947, remaining its editor for 20 years.

(1833/35-1914).  One of New Zealand’s most important 19th century photographers.  Born in Leicester, he immigrated to New Zealand in 1868, setting up a studio in Dunedin.  He photographed much of the lower South Island’s landscape and in 1884 travelled to the Pacific Islands.  From 1885 until his retirement in 1896 he travelled and photographed throughout New Zealand.

(1874-1952) Senior and (1909-1980) Junior.  Both were heavily involved in the development of Rugby Union in New Zealand.  "Young Vic" was also a talented Cricketer and worked for both the ODT and the Evening Star, overseeing the merger of the two newspapers, and was head of Allied Press for its first years, retiring in 1976.

(1864/65-1950).  Businesswoman and matriarch.  Born in Lebanon, she married in 1880/81 and three years later the family moved to Australia, setting up business in Melbourne.  In 1892 they moved to Dunedin and opened a fancy goods store and later moved into importing.  She dominated the business and became a substantial landowner in the city.

(1823-1889).  Farmwife, midwife and businesswoman.  Born in Scotland, she married in 1844 and had 11 children.  Her first child was baptised by Rev Thomas Burns, who persuaded the couple to emigrate to Otago in 1847.  In 1854 the couple purchased a farm on Saddle Hill.  In 1879 she bought a grocery shop and proved to be an excellent businesswoman.

(1919-2008).  Poet.  Born Ruth Mumford in Invercargill, she adopted Dallas as her pen name.  Her first book of poetry was published in 1953 and she moved to Dunedin in 1954.  She was awarded the 1968 Robert Burns Fellowship at the University of Otago and was made an honorary Doctor of Literature in 1978.  In 1989 she was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

(1895-1990).  Scholar, editor, collector, bibliophile and philanthropist.  Born in Dunedin, the family moved to London in 1910 and he studied at Oxford before serving in WW1.  Although he spent much of the rest of his life in England, he regarded Dunedin as his home and was a major benefactor of Dunedin's museums, libraries and galleries.

(1918-1994).  City Librarian 1960-68.  She began working in the Dunedin Public Library in 1937 and, apart from two years in Rangiora, spent her whole career in Dunedin.  She was only the second woman in New Zealand to be appointed to head of a major metropolitan library.  The Ada Fache Fund was established by a bequest from her to the Library Association to fund the future development of individual librarians.

(1838 -1926).  Arrived on the John Wickliffe in 1848 aged 10 with her aunt and uncle.   She later married Thomas Ferens in 1854, theirs being the first European marriage in North Otago.  The Ferens produced 14 children and established three churches.  The couple were also responsible for the introduction of Clydesdale horses into the Otago region.

(1913-2006).  Writer, sportsman, teacher, water-colourist, graduated from University of Otago and its rugby team in 1936.

(1878-1967).  Awarded the Belgian Queen Elisabeth Medal during World War I.  The Queen Elisabeth Medal was created in 1915 to recognise exceptional services in aiding Belgian refugees.

(1912-1980).  Poet, journalist, typographer, publisher and naval officer.  Denis was born in Dunedin and began his education here.  In 1931 he attended the University of Canterbury, gaining a BA in English and Greek, and worked as a lecturer and journalist until the outbreak of war in 1939.  He served with the Royal Navy 1941-44, earning the DSC, and then with the RNZNVR, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander in 1951.

(1894-1985).  Born in England, after serving in WW1, Vernon won a Scholarship to Cambridge, graduating in 1922.  Teaching music became his passion and he moved to New Zealand in 1926 to lecture in music at Canterbury Teachers College.  He moved to Dunedin in 1933 to be Music Master at King Edward Technical College, creating his own teaching scheme, which received international attention in later years.  He returned to Christchurch in 1942 as Professor of Music at Canterbury University.

(1879-1963).  Born in Dunedin and educated at Otago Girls High School and Otago University before moving to Scotland and graduating from the Edinburgh Medical School in 1903.  She was a GP in Wellington before serving in the NZ Medical Corps 1915-17.  Her time in England in 1917 highlighted the problems of child welfare.  On returning to NZ, she promoted the introduction of daily milk for school children,  inaugurated the Children's Health Camp Movement in 1919 and spent the rest of her career promoting children's health.

(1835-1905).  New Zealand suffragist.  Born in England, as a young woman Marion was involved in the temperance movement.  After her marriage to Joseph Hutton they immigrated to Dunedin and in 1892 chaired a meeting in Dunedin in support of Women’s Suffrage.  She became the principal speaker in the lower south and organised petitions to Parliament.  The Bill was passed on 8 September 1893 – Marion's birthday.  She continued to work on equality for women and was involved in the formation of the National Council of Women.

(1921-2007).  Dunedin City Councillor, 1977-1980, 1980-1983 and president of the YWCA.  Born in England, Joyce and her family moved to Dunedin in 1953.  She gained a BA (over 10 years) and joined the National Council of Women amongst many other organisations.  In 1985 she was awarded a QSO.

(1940-1998).  Director of the Otago Early Settlers Museum 1983-1996.  She gained her BA in 1961 and MA (Hons) in 1967.  She worked as an archaeologist in the Pacific Islands, became acting director of the Fiji Museum in the late sixties then moved to the Gisborne Art Gallery and Museum, and ultimately became the director of the OESM.  She revitalised the Otago Early Settler's Association and with it the Museum.

(1911-2008).  Photographer, historian and collector.  Born in London, Hardwicke moved to Dunedin in 1957 as director of the Medical Photographic Unit of the Otago Medical School.  He was not only a fine photographer in his own right, but published extensively on the history of New Zealand photography and photographers and on the history of Otago.  He was awarded a QSO in 1991.

(1817-1889).  Born in Edinburgh and trained as a clerk and designer, he immigrated to Dunedin in 1850.  He served on the Dunedin Town Board in the 1850s and designed a number of buildings including the old Mechanics Institute and the old Knox Church.

(1867-1941).  Town clerk for 26 years (1911-1937).  Born in Lyttleton, he was Town Clerk of that borough from 1900-1911 before moving to Dunedin.  In 1935 he was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.  He was considered one of the outstanding municipal executive heads of his day.

(1832/3-1913).  Printer, newspaper proprietor and editor.  Born in Scotland, he immigrated to Auckland in 1865 and by 1868 he had moved to Dunedin.  Over the next 20 years he was involved in the engraving and printing trades.  In 1887 he started the "Otago Workman", a weekly newspaper that soon took a major role in shaping the working class identity and the strategy of the new unions.

(1854/56-1915).  Store keeper, homemaker and community worker.  The first known Chinese woman in New Zealand.  Her origins are obscure, but she is known to have been resident in Australia, where she married.  She joined her husband in Dunedin in late 1873.  She raised her six children to be well educated members of the wider community, helped with the Chinese Mission Church and was known for her charitable works.

(1916-1990).  Artist and art teacher, potter and lecturer.  Born in Dunedin and educated at Otago Girls High School and King Edward Technical.  She attended art school in Dunedin 1934-39, learning painting and pottery.  She first exhibited in the 1940s and was one of New Zealand's pioneer potters.  Her work rose to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s and she lectured in art at Canterbury University from the 1960s.

(1879-1973).  Modernist Architect.  Born in Te Awamutu, he was educated in Auckland before moving to Dunedin.  While working as a builder he did night classes in architectural draughtsmanship.  After working for Mason and Wales, he set up his own practice in 1911.  His first major commission was King Edward Technical College.  In 1914 his design was chosen for the new Town Hall, however WW1 intervened and when the new Town Hall was eventually built in the late 1920s the design had significant changes.  Other buildings include Santa Sabina Convent, the Central Fire Station and Speights Brewery.  His last major work was the main block at Wakari Hospital in 1957.

(1919-1987).  Regarded as New Zealand’s foremost artist.  Born in Timaru, he was enrolled in the Dunedin School of Art 1937-39.  He first exhibited in Dunedin in 1939.  In 1953 he moved to Auckland and worked at the Auckland City Art Gallery and from 1964 taught at the Elam School of Fine Arts.

(1866-1933).  Born and educated in Dunedin.  Having trained as a teacher in Dunedin, she taught in at different schools in the south from 1888-1913.  She joined the NZ Women’s Christian Temperance Union and from 1906 became increasingly involved in promoting gender equality and,  after 1919,  world peace and internationalism.  She was involved with the Labour Party from its inception in 1916.

(1910-2011).  He was born in Dunedin, and trained at the School of Mines in the 1930's.  After graduation he worked in Malaya and spent three years as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese.  Returning to Dunedin in 1947 he lectured in surveying at the School of Mines.  When the school was closed in 1963, Prof Mackie became the foundation head of the National School of Surveying, retiring in 1976.  He was president of the NZ Institute of Surveyors 1977-79.  He was nationally and internationally renowned for his pioneering work in surveying.

(1870-1933).  Dunedin's first public librarian.  Born in Edinburgh, he worked in the book trade from the age of 14.  He became a public librarian in Stirling in 1903, before immigrating to New Zealand in 1906.  He became Dunedin's public librarian in 1908.  Starting with an empty building, he opened the fully stocked reading room after six months, with a reference library and children's library following by 1910.  Under his stewardship the library gained the McNab and Reed collections.  He was librarian for almost 25 years and his influence spread nationwide.

(1929-2001).  Artist, journalist and broadcaster.  Born in Gore and educated at Otago Girls High School and then Dunedin Teachers College.  She taught art before moving to London in the mid-1950s.  Returning to Dunedin, she was a journalist from the 1960, served on the QE II Arts Council, the Otago Art Society and the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, amongst many other groups.  She is probably best known for being a panellist on "Beauty and the Beast" from 1976-85.

(1822/23-1888).  Photographer and businessman.  Apparently born in London, little is known of William until his arrival in Nelson in 1858, where he set up as a photographer.  He moved to Dunedin in 1860 and opened a studio and imported photographic equipment.  His outstanding contribution was the documentation of 1860s Dunedin in photographs.  By 1870, when he returned to London, his land holdings in Dunedin had made him a wealthy man.

(1901-1989).  Born in Dunedin, he studied Theology at Knox College and was ordained a minister in 1925.  Working in North Otago from 1925-35, the harsh conditions endured by workers on the Waitaki Valley dams inspired him to get involved in politics.  He was elected Labour MP for Oamaru in 1935 and finally retired from politics in 1969.  He helped introduce many of New Zealand’s social policies, but is probably best known for his "Black Budget" of 1958.

3(1847-1918).  Born in Petone to one of England's oldest Catholic families.  He was educated in England and France and trained as an architect 1864-69.  In 1872 he returned to New Zealand as a railway engineer, before starting his own architectural and engineering practice in 1875.  In 1877 his first major commission was St Dominic's Priory, built in monolithic concrete.  He thus became the leading Catholic Church architect in New Zealand, most importantly the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch 1901-05.  He also built many houses and was a pioneer in the use of concrete in New Zealand.

(1838/39-1894).  Engineer and Contractor.  Little is known of his early life, but the family immigrated to Australia in 1852 and then David moved to Dunedin in the early 1860s.  In 1865 he took the contract for building the Dunedin Water Works and then built the Port Chalmers railway.  He then built large sections of the South Island Main Trunk line.  In 1879 he began running trams, giving Dunedin the country’s most advanced transport network.  His feats of engineering were extensive and in all manner of fields.

(1827-1894).  Administrator, politician, journalist, writer.  Born in England, he immigrated to Australia in 1851.  He went gold mining in Victoria and was elected to the Legislative Council.  In 1862 he moved to Otago, where the Provincial Government appointed him administrator of the Otago goldfields.  His Mining Regulations formed the basis for the development of gold mining in New Zealand.  From 1873 he was heavily involved in both local and national politics in the Otago area.  He also published a number of books on Otago and gold mining.

(1850-1931).  Born in England, he came to Dunedin in 1879 and immediately began to organise trade unions.  He was prominently involved in the maritime strike of 1890 and helped to organise Labour Day, now a national holiday.  In 1895 he elected the worker assessor in the new Arbitration Court, which he helped develop into a body to legislate wages and work conditions.

(1888-1966).  Born in Dunedin, Dorothy travelled widely with her parents in her early years, returning to Dunedin to the newly completed Olveston.  She became deeply involved in her family’s philanthropic activities and had a lifelong interest in the arts.  She never married and on her death left Olveston and its contents to the people of Dunedin.

(?-1844).  Also known as John or Bloody Jack.  He was a leader of the southern Ngai Tahu.  He was a whaler, mariner and trader and also had a reputation as a bold and clever military leader.

(1922-2008).  Poet.  Born in Northland he immersed himself in both Maoritanga and English literature.  A boilermaker by trade, he served in J-Force in Japan after the war.  He was active in the New Zealand Communist Party from 1942 until 1956.  From this time he began to write and published his first collection in 1964.  In 1969 he was awarded the Robert Burns Fellowship to the University of Otago.

Polish settlers began arriving in the South Island of New Zealand during the 1870s , as part of an influx of immigrants from the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. Many of these settlers worked and lived in the Taieri Plain area, undertaking farming and infrastructure work. Notably, many early Polish settlers worked on drainage infrastructure to enable increased agricultural use of the Taieri Plain area. While many Polish settlers worked and lived in the Taieri Plain area, many others were involved in settling other parts of the city.

The geographic region of Poland where many of the early Polish Settlers emigrated from. Many of these settlers were involved with agricultural and infrastructural work in the Taieri Plain area and settling other parts of the city

(1925-1999) Stalwart of the Fairfield community for over fifty years. He contributed significantly to the construction of the Fairfield hall and school. Justice of the Peace, member of the Fairfield School Centennial Committee and Chairman of the Fairfield Community Hall Building Committee.

Henry Richard Wain Skinner (12 February 1923 - 25 May 2013), who was known as ‘Richard Skinner’, was a prominent Dunedin businessman as well as an important tourism and heritage advocate for the city. He was a former member of the Otago Museum Trust Board and was also involved with the Otago Peninsula Trust Committee. He operated a small tourism company, which he successfully used to promote cruise ship tourism for Dunedin. Other important contributions to the community were the support he provided to fence off the albatross colony and helping to establish the Taieri Gorge Railway.