The Octagon, Dunedin

Last updated

The Octagon, looking towards St. Paul's Cathedral (left) and the Municipal Chambers (Dunedin Town Hall) (right). The Robert Burns statue is visible in front of the cathedral. OctagonDunedin.jpg
The Octagon, looking towards St. Paul's Cathedral (left) and the Municipal Chambers (Dunedin Town Hall) (right). The Robert Burns statue is visible in front of the cathedral.

The Octagon is the city centre of Dunedin, in the South Island of New Zealand. It is an eight-sided plaza with a circular one-way carriageway, bisected by the city's main street, and is also the central terminus of two other main thoroughfares. The Octagon is predominantly a pedestrian reserve, with grass and paved features, and is surmounted by a statue of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Several of Dunedin's significant buildings and institutions adjoin the plaza, which is also a major hub for public transport in Dunedin, primarily taxi services. [nb 1]

Contents

First laid out in 1846, the site was largely derelict for many years until the two major early parts of the city's settlement (to the north and south of the Octagon) were linked by the excavation of Bell Hill. From the 1890s on it rose to prominence as the city's central area. The Octagon was substantially renovated during the 1980s, and is now a centre of the city's cafe culture, with many al fresco dining areas.

New Year's Eve celebrations are held annually in The Octagon. [2]

Geography

Central Dunedin. The Octagon is the small octagonal area marked in red (numbered 2) Dunedin central map.svg
Central Dunedin. The Octagon is the small octagonal area marked in red (numbered 2)

The Octagon is an eight-sided plaza bisected by the city's main street, which is called George Street to the northeast and Princes Street to the southwest. These form the axis of Dunedin's central business district.

Two other main thoroughfares terminate at the Octagon: Upper and Lower Stuart Streets. Lower Stuart Street is the shorter of the two, leading 600 metres southeast to Dunedin Railway Station and to State Highway 1, which passes through central Dunedin as two parallel one-way streets. Upper Stuart Street climbs steeply to the northwest as a major arterial route to the city's inner hill suburbs and beyond towards Three Mile Hill, one of the routes to the Taieri Plains and South Otago. Surrounding the Octagon is a larger octagonal street, Moray Place.

The Octagon is a major hub for public transport in Dunedin; the bus stops are actually mostly on approaching streets with one main stop in the southwestern quadrant, outside Reading cinema. In 2018, a new bus hub was created close to the corner of Moray Place and Great King Street (one block to the east of George Street), which reduced some of the bus traffic through the Octagon. Taxi stands occupy much of the northeastern quadrant.

Features

A statue of poet Robert Burns has pride of place in the upper Octagon. BurnsStatueDunedin.jpg
A statue of poet Robert Burns has pride of place in the upper Octagon.

Several of Dunedin's significant buildings and institutions face this plaza or closely adjoin it of which three have New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT) recognition. The Dunedin Municipal Chambers (Dunedin Town Hall), Civic Centre and Public Library lie in the Octagon's northwestern quadrant, between George Street and Upper Stuart Street, as does St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral, which is separated from the municipal buildings by the narrow Harrop Lane. Both the Municipal Chambers [3] and Cathedral [4] are listed as Category I buildings by the NZHPT.

The Octagon's southwestern quadrant contains Dunedin Public Art Gallery, which sits on the former site of the D.I.C. building on the corner of Princes Street, a multiplex cinema, and a major office block, Forsyth Barr House. The southeastern quadrant contains the Regent Theatre (Dunedin's largest live theatre) and the Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute, which operates a private lending library and a theatre. Both of these structures also have Category I NZHPT ratings. [5] [6] Several cafes and bars complete this quadrant, and similar businesses also make up much of the Octagon's northeastern quadrant, along with a second office block, Burns House. Many of the Octagon's bars and cafes have provision for al fresco dining, making the Octagon a lively place.

The area within the roadway — with the exception of the central thoroughfare between George and Princes Streets — is a pedestrian reserve, grassed and terraced in the upper half, and paved in the lower. A street market occupies much of the paved area once a week. The paved area contains both water features and a giant chessboard. Both it and the grassed area in the upper octagon are frequently the venues for open-air meetings and entertainment. The terrace is surmounted by an 1887 statue by Sir John Steell of the Scottish poet Robert Burns, which has a Category I listing in the NZHPT register. [7] The poet's nephew, Thomas Burns, was one of the founders of the city. The statue stands on the McMillan Terrace, a vantage point over the Octagon, which was presented to the city by philanthropist Alexander McMillan in 1967. [8]

History

A De Havilland DH86 Express flies over central Dunedin during the 1930s. In this picture, looking west, The Octagon is the clear circular area just below the centre of the photo. De Havilland DH86 Express ZK-AEG over Dunedin, NZ.JPG
A De Havilland DH86 Express flies over central Dunedin during the 1930s. In this picture, looking west, The Octagon is the clear circular area just below the centre of the photo.

Early years

The Octagon was first laid out during Charles Kettle's surveying of the city in 1846. His plans for the centre of Dunedin included a large Octagonal area (Moray Place) enclosing a smaller octagonal space, originally designated as a reserve. This status was embodied in law in 1854, six years after the arrival of the first European settlers to the city. At this stage in Dunedin's history the area was officially designated as "the Square of Moray Place", though it was colloquially known as the Octagon even then. [9]

Despite the reserve status, the Anglican Church sought to build in the centre of the Octagon, applying directly to Governor Sir George Grey. It was not until construction was about to begin that the local (predominantly Presbyterian) community became aware of what was happening. This resulted in a major furore. Otago Superintendent William Cargill was put in charge of resolving the dispute, which resulted in the Anglicans being forced to withdraw their plans for The Octagon. (The Anglican St. Paul's Cathedral stands today at its northern edge.)[ citation needed ]

The 1879 Cafe Chantant fire Octagon building fire 1879.jpg
The 1879 Cafe Chantant fire

For many years, the site was somewhat derelict, with little done to improve the condition of the reserve. Early central Dunedin was divided by the body of Bell Hill, which rose immediately to the south of The Octagon. It was only with the making of a cutting through the hill and the later removal of most of it to allow traffic to move easily between the northern and southern parts of the central city along Princes Street that The Octagon began to gain any prominence. Even so, it remained unsightly until the 1890s.[ citation needed ]

The first major structure of any kind in The Octagon's reserve area was a monument erected in 1864 to the memory of Cargill. This was moved several hundred metres to The Exchange in 1872 to allow for the construction of a central roadway connecting Princes Street and George Street. In 1887 a statue of the poet Robert Burns, the uncle of one of the city's founding fathers, was unveiled. It still stands at the western edge of The Octagon close to the junction with Stuart Street.

St Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin, August 2006 St Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin, August 2006.jpg
St Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin, August 2006

1879 fire

On 8 September 1879, a fire broke out in the Cafe Chantant in the lower Octagon and spread to other properties within the Ross Building. The cafe had a bad reputation and the proprietor William Waters was under threat of arrest. The building was full at the time of the fire, and escape from the building was difficult. In all, a dozen people died in the blaze, including Robert Wilson, editor of the Otago Witness and his family. Waters was later charged with setting fire to the building for insurance purposes. [10] The disaster was the biggest single loss of life in New Zealand due to fire until the destruction of Seacliff Mental Hospital some 63 years later.

The site of the blaze is now occupied by the Regent Theatre, which is reputed to be haunted, possibly by victims of the fire. [11]

Since the 1890s

In the early 1890s several improvements were proposed to The Octagon, including fencing, and the planting of plane trees along the edge of the central roadway. About this time a monument was also erected to early settler Thomas Burns, though this monument, erected in 1891, was generally unpopular and was eventually removed during the 1940s. Subterranean public toilets were installed close to the monument in 1910, though these were filled in during the 1970s.[ citation needed ]

In 1963, the council was given £5,000 by the Evening Star newspaper to build a fountain in the Octagon. The Star Fountain, as it became known after its installation in 1966, was a popular attraction, with synchronised lighting, music, and water displays, which played at regular times of the morning and evening. Despite its popularity, it was also unsightly during times when it was not playing, due to the large number of visible pipes needed for its performances. When The Octagon was refurbished in the 1990s, the Star Fountain was removed and was not included in The Octagon's new design, leading to some public outcry. [12]

1980s renovation

A plaque in Writers' Walk in The Octagon featuring the words of James K. Baxter OctagonplaqueDnNZ.jpg
A plaque in Writers' Walk in The Octagon featuring the words of James K. Baxter

During the late 1980s, the Dunedin City Council commissioned consultants with a view to substantially renovating The Octagon area. The initial proposals included the closure of several sections of road around and within The Octagon, again resulting in public protest, and in the end, the renovations went ahead without any road closures.[ citation needed ]

The "new look" Octagon was in many ways an "old look", with covered walkways and Edwardian-style streetlights and fittings giving an antique look to the central city. This was designed to complement the many late Victorian and Edwardian buildings which surround The Octagon.[ citation needed ]

The improvements also included the paving of a plaza area in the lower Octagon (an area now regularly used for street performances and markets). The renovation of The Octagon, and particularly the addition of a plaza area, has seen an increase in al fresco dining in The Octagon, which is now a major hub for Dunedin's restaurant and cafe culture.[ citation needed ]

Renovation of The Octagon also saw the installation of two walks featuring large plaques embedded in the paving. The larger of these, the Dunedin Writers' Walk, features plaques inscribed with words from notable Dunedin writers and words about Dunedin by famous visiting writers. This walk extends around much of the upper Octagon. [13] A second, smaller, walk along the central carriageway of The Octagon features plaques dedicated to Dunedin-born or -based Olympic medallists.[ citation needed ]

Barnes Dance

In March 2018, Barnes Dance crossings were introduced at the Octagon's southwestern and northeastern junctions (with Princes Street and George Street). They became the city's first Barnes Dance crossing for over 20 years (the last previously being at Cargill's Corner in South Dunedin), and the pilot for a scheme which saw several more such crossings put in place by the end of the year.

See also

Notes

  1. The Central City Bus Hub is now located on Great King Street. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral Square, Christchurch</span> Square in Christchurch, New Zealand

Cathedral Square, locally known simply as the Square, is the geographical centre and heart of Christchurch, New Zealand, where the city's Anglican cathedral, ChristChurch Cathedral is located. The square stands at the theoretical crossing of the city's two main orthogonal streets, Colombo Street and Worcester Street, though in practice both have been either blocked off or detoured around the square itself. The square was badly damaged in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Street, Dunedin</span>

George Street is the main street of Dunedin, the second largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. It runs for two and a half kilometres north-northeast from The Octagon in the city centre to the foot of Pine Hill. It is straight and undulates gently as it skirts the edge of the hills to its northwest. South of The Octagon, Princes Street continues the line of George Street south-southwest for two kilometres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princes Street, Dunedin</span> Street in Dunedin, New Zealand

Princes Street is a major street in Dunedin, the second largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. It runs south-southwest for two kilometres from The Octagon in the city centre to the Oval sports ground, close to the city's Southern Cemetery. North of The Octagon, George Street continues the line of Princes Street north-northeast for two and a half kilometres. Princes Street is straight but undulating, skirting the edge of the City Rise to its northwest. The part of the street immediately below The Octagon is the steepest section, as the road traverses an old cutting through Bell Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moray Place, Dunedin</span> Street in Dunedin, Otago Region, New Zealand

Moray Place is an octagonal street which surrounds the city centre of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. The street is intersected by Stuart Street, Princes Street and George Street. Like many streets in Dunedin, it is named for a street in the Scottish capital Edinburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regent Theatre, Dunedin</span> Theatre in Dunedin, New Zealand

The Regent Theatre is a theatre in Dunedin, New Zealand with a seating capacity of about 1,650. It is in The Octagon, the city's central plaza, directly opposite the Municipal Chambers and close to the Dunedin Public Art Gallery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuart Street, Dunedin</span> Street in Dunedin, New Zealand

Stuart Street is one of the main streets of Dunedin, New Zealand. As with many of Dunedin's streets, it is named after a main street in Edinburgh, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Dunedin</span> Suburb of Dunedin, New Zealand

South Dunedin is a major inner city suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. It is located, as its name suggests, 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) to the south of the city centre, on part of a large plain known locally simply as "The Flat". The suburb is a mix of industrial, retail, and predominantly lower-quality residential properties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colombo Street</span> Main road in Christchurch, New Zealand

Colombo Street is a main road of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. It runs south-north through the centre of Christchurch with a break at Cathedral Square. As with many other central Christchurch streets, it is named for a colonial Anglican bishopric, Colombo, Sri Lanka in what at the time was known as Ceylon. Parts of the street which run through Sydenham were known as Addison Street during the 1880s, and some parts were known as Colombo Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lyttelton Times Building</span> Initially commercial, now hostel in Christchurch, New Zealand

The Lyttelton Times Building, last known as Base Backpackers, in 56 Cathedral Square, Christchurch Central City, was the last headquarters of the Lyttelton Times before its demise in 1935 as the then-oldest newspaper in New Zealand. The building in Chicago School architectural style was registered with New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category I heritage item, with the registration number 7216. The building's last use was as a backpackers' hostel and a restaurant. It was demolished following the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Maddison</span> New Zealand architect (1850–1923)

Joseph Clarkson Maddison was a New Zealand architect. He trained as an architect in his native London and came to Canterbury at the age of 22. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, he was one of the most prominent architects in Christchurch, receiving commissions from all over the country. Until the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, 13 of his buildings were listed by Heritage New Zealand on their register, with three of those Category I listings, but many of the Christchurch buildings have been demolished since. His style was plain and utilitarian, and he specialised in the classical Italian mode.

<i>Robert Burns</i> (Steell) Series of statues by John Steell

Robert Burns is a bronze portrait statue of Robert Burns by John Steell. Four versions exist, in New York City, Dundee (Scotland), London (England), and Dunedin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dunedin Law Courts</span> Historic building in central Dunedin, New Zealand

The Dunedin Law Courts is a notable historic building in central Dunedin, in the South Island of New Zealand. They are located at the corner of Lower Stuart Street and Anzac Square, directly opposite the city's historic railway station. Since 1902, the building has been used as the city's law courts, and contains four court rooms, including the ornate High Court, as well as housing the offices and library of the Law Society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Empire Hotel, Dunedin</span> New Zealand heritage building in Dunedin

The Empire Hotel is a historic building at 396 Princes Street, Dunedin, New Zealand, located some 700 metres southwest of the city centre. Currently empty, it served as a public house from the 1850s until the 1990s. It has a New Zealand Historic Places Trust category 1 listing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warehouse Precinct</span> Dunedin suburb

The Warehouse Precinct is an urban area of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. Sited on reclaimed land at the northernmost tip of the Southern Endowment, it lies between 1 and 2 kilometres south of The Octagon, the city's centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queens Gardens, Dunedin</span>

Queens Gardens is a roughly triangular area of trees and lawn in central Dunedin, New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cargill Monument</span> Monument in Dunedin, New Zealand

The Cargill Monument is a notable public monument in central Dunedin, New Zealand. It is dedicated to the city's founding father, Captain William Cargill, and is approximately 7.5 metres (25 ft) in height.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Dunedin</span> Suburb in Dunedin, New Zealand

Central Dunedin is the central suburb and business district of the New Zealand city of Dunedin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloucester Street</span> Major urban street in central Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand

Gloucester Street is a major urban street in central Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand. It runs for approximately 4.9 kilometres (3.0 mi) from a junction with Rolleston Avenue, directly opposite Christ's College at its western end to the suburbs of Linwood and Avonside in the east. For the majority of its length it runs due west-east, with the section from the central city's eastern edge to Linwood veering to the northeast.

References

  1. https://www.orc.govt.nz/public-transport/dunedin-buses/dunedin-bus-hub%7Cdate=19 May 2021
  2. "New Year's Eve in the Octagon". Otago Daily Times. 31 December 2011.
  3. "Municipal Chambers". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand.
  4. "St Paul's Cathedral and Belfry (Anglican)". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand.
  5. "Regent Theatre". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand.
  6. "Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand.
  7. "Robert Burns Statue". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand.
  8. "Other memorials", Dunedin City Council website. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  9. ""
  10. Octagon building fire, Dunedin - 8 September 1879
  11. Morris, C., "Ghostly gushing mystifies Regent workers," Otago Daily Times , 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  12. "The Octagonal Heart," Dunedin Amenities Society, 25 July 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  13. "Literary flagstones well worth looking down on". Otago Daily Times Online News. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2021.

Further reading

45°52′27″S170°30′13″E / 45.87417°S 170.50361°E / -45.87417; 170.50361