Celebrating a Dunedin First
21 Aug 2014
The first production of town gas in New Zealand was on the site of the present Dunedin Gasworks Museum in 1864.
That milestone has just been marked by the Gasworks Museum with a 150th celebration. The Gasworks150 Festival included a Gaslight Gala, the opening of a new interpretation area for domestic uses of gas, the acquisition of one of the only remaining gaslights in the city, and an exhibition of Barry Brickell’s work at the Brett McDowell Gallery. It also incorporated a terracotta wall panel gifted to the museum showing the gas production process.
Described as "the best example of a Gasworks Museum with working machinery in the world", the Museum has an important place in the industrial heritage of the city and is of international significance.
Otago Community Trust funding is enabling the museum to complete interpretation panels on the history of the Dunedin Gasworks and to research and display information on gasworks production in New Zealand.