| Dunedin is on the southeast coast of
NZ's South Island in the Otago Peninsula, the oldest city in NZ and the second
most important city on South Island. A small city of 118,00 people, Dunedin has a long
chequered history. |
 |
It is the main business
centre for the region of Otago, an area long recognised for its spectacular scenery and
colourful past. Dunedin sits in the deep bowl of a natural harbour, set
against a backdrop of bush-covered hills, an impressive locale that attracted Maori
settlers to the site over four hundred years ago. The ancient history of Dunedin can be
summed up in a nutshell as that of two warring Maori factions that between themselves
wiped each other out! Those who didn't die in battle died from diseases brought in by
Europeans till by 1846, the Maori population was down to 100.
The discovery of gold in the Otago Peninsula in the 1870s revived the
fortunes of a dying city, which acquired a new affluence and sheen. The gold rush brought
in many prospectors of Scottish descent. These Scottish settlers came looking for gold but
ended up founding the city they named Dunedin, Gaelic for Edinburgh. Their contribution
and nostalgia for the parent country is evident in the distinctly Scottish atmosphere of
Dunedin, its academic atmosphere, fine architecture, whisky distilleries, bagpipes, reels,
haggis ceremonies et al!
In 1879, the first tram system
outside the USA was built in Dunedin. Though Dunedin's fortunes declined considerably in
the early decades of the 20th century, it is once again enjoying renewed popularity
for its lively and easygoing atmosphere rather than an economically viable one. A
university town, students make up one-fifth of the population, and they in turn make it
the arts and pub scene capital of South Island.
For detailed country information, see New
Zealand. |
