Oamaru: The Old Post Office

Block out the clocktower with your hand. That’s how this limestone building looked from 1883 to 1903. The crowning and rather superior tower was added by John, the son of Thomas Forrester of Forrester and Lemon, architects.

Why wasn’t it there in the first place? Not intended? Not enough money? Whatever the reason, this ex post office, which is now home to the Waitaki District Council, would have been ordinary, by Oamaru standards, without it.

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz

Oamaru: North Otago Museum

The legend over the main door reads: ‘Where there are riches there are people; and where there are people stories flow’. It’s typical of those high-headed shibboleths Victorians felt it necessary to promulgate to the citizenry in the days when earnest civic leaders – Ozymandiases of their day – built things to last.

The North Otago Museum began life in 1882 as the Mechanics’ Institute and Oamaru Athenaeum, a subscription library. 

The architects, Forrester and Lemon must have been wildly successful financially because, as with the Athenaeum,  they ‘did’ most the Oamaru stone buildings in this historic precinct. Most of their designs were variations on the Palladian theme – all very classical and quite outstandingly good.

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz

Oamaru: Former Waitaki County Council building

They don’t make as much fuss about this building as some of the others in Oamaru – in fact it’s quite hard to get any information about it. It’s now the Community Centre but started life in 1881 as the Waitaki County Council offices. The council had been formed in 1877 to service the agricultural and pastoral areas of North Otago.

As with many others of the buildings of the historic precinct it was designed by  Forrester and Lemon. As one of the smaller Palladian style edifices it is a limestone jewel.

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz

Oamaru: The Courthouse

It’s just past nine o’clock on a weekday morning and those with business at Oamaru’s district court are already gathering to prosecute, defend, plead and receive judgment. For some: good news, for others bad.

Here lives are changed. It has been so since 1882-3 when this magnificently pompous Palladian classic was opened in a small but prosperous and comfortable town.

The courthouse, built of Oamaru stone, was designed by Forrester and Lemon unashamedly derived from ancient Greco-Roman origins. Long may it last.

©DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz