Otago Peninsula Museum & Historical Society

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Otago Peninsula Museum & Historical Society

In 1986 the Museum was opened in its present site.
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The Otago Peninsula Museum was started by local people in 1974, with a small room in the Portobello Coronation Hall used to display photographs and historical items.

26/08/2026

TUESDAY AT THE MUSEUM

THOMAS CUDBERT HARRINGTON (HARRINGTON POINT)

Thomas Cudbert Harrington became London Secretary of the New Zealand Company, overseeing emigration and settlement logistics for Wellington, Nelson, New Plymouth, and Otago.

• Known for his meticulous record-keeping, which preserved thousands of documents now held in archives in New Zealand and the UK.
• His name lives on in Harrington Point, Otago Peninsula—likely named in recognition of his role in the company’s operations.

Harrington Point, nestled at the northeastern tip of the Otago Peninsula near Dunedin, is a place where natural beauty and historical intrigue meet. Here's a dive into its background and rich past:
Wildlife & Natural Significance
• It’s the closest residential area to Taiaroa Head, home to the world’s only mainland Northern Royal Albatross colony.
Military History
• The hills behind Harrington Point are dotted with abandoned WWII gun emplacements, tunnels, and bunkers—part of New Zealand’s coastal fortifications.
• These defenses were built in the 1890s amid fears of a Russian invasion and later expanded during WWII after the attack on Pearl Harbour.
• The site includes rifled muzzle loaders, searchlight posts, and quick-firing guns, with some areas still accessible for exploration.
Whaling Legacy
• Wellers Rock, between Harrington Point and Otakou, was named after the Weller Brothers, early European settlers and whalers.
• Their Otakou station, active from 1831 to 1841, was one of New Zealand’s largest shore whaling stations.
• Archaeological digs in 1991 uncovered remnants of this whaling past, and efforts continue to protect the site from erosion.
Cultural & Historical Notes
• The name “Harrington Point” honours Thomas Cudbert Harrington, first secretary of the New Zealand Company.
• The area was historically home to Māori farmers, and nearby Otakou remains a significant cultural site.
• The Otago Peninsula Museum in Portobello offers exhibits on local history, including transport, farming, and military artifacts which includes Harrington Point.

18/08/2026

Tuesday at the Museum - Otago Peninsula County Council

Formation and Governance:
Established in 1876 under the Counties Act, the Otago Peninsula County Council replaced the earlier provincial government system.
• It governed the rural and semi-rural communities of the peninsula, including Portobello, Broad Bay, Macandrew Bay, and surrounding areas.
• The council was composed of elected representatives from local wards, with a chairman presiding over meetings and decisions.
Key Responsibilities
• Roading and transport: Maintaining gravel roads, bridges, and causeways was a major focus, especially given the peninsula’s hilly terrain and coastal exposure.
• Public health and sanitation: Oversaw drainage schemes, waste disposal, and water supply in collaboration with health boards.
• Community development: Supported schools, halls, and recreational reserves, often in partnership with local committees.
• Rates and land management: Collected property rates and managed land use planning, including subdivision approvals and zoning.
Infrastructure and Local Impact
• The council was instrumental in developing early road networks, including the Portobello Road causeway and hill access routes.
• It supported community amenities such as halls, sports grounds, and reserves, many of which still serve local residents today.
• Council minutes often reflect debates over land use, drainage, and the balance between farming, settlement, and conservation.
Transition and Dissolution
• In 1989, the Otago Peninsula County Council was dissolved during a nationwide local government reorganization.
• Its functions were absorbed into the Dunedin City Council, which now oversees the peninsula as part of its wider jurisdiction.
• The Otago Peninsula Community Board was later established to represent local interests within the city council framework.

Photo Names:
Front Row — seated (left → right)
1. Miller (Broad Bay)
2. David Robertson (HighCliff)
3. James McAndrew — Chairman (North East Harbour)
4. Robert Brunton (HighCliff)
5. Irvine
Middle Row — standing (left → right)
1. Stanley Paterson (Engineer)
2. Walter Lewis (Portobello)
3. Robert Morrison (Otakou)
4. Joseph Cross (Portobello)
5. Wm Stewart
Back Row — standing (left → right)
1. Farquhar (Sandymount)
2. Bruce Noble (Secretary)
3. Malcolm (NE Harbour)

Photo taken about 1930's - 40's

03/08/2026

TUESDAY AT THE MUSEUM

EARLY SETTLERS OF THE OTAGO PENINSULA

1. Kāi Tahu – First Inhabitants
Kāi Tahu / Kāi Te Ruahikihika families lived across the Peninsula for generations at Ōtākou Pā, Pukekura (Taiaroa Head), Te Rauone, Harington Point, and Hoopers/Papanui Inlet. Rangatira such as Tūhawaiki, Karetai, Taiaroa, and Potiki led these communities.
“Long before European arrival, the Peninsula was home to Kāi Tahu…”

2. Pre‑1840 Whaling Families at Ōtākou
The first sustained European presence came with the Weller brothers, who established the Ōtākou whaling station in 1831. Their extended household — including Elizabeth Weller, Joseph and Mary Weller, and sisters F***y and Ann — formed the earliest European settlement. Māori–Pākehā households developed through close interaction with Kāi Tahu.
“Weller brothers… established the Ōtākou whaling station in 1831…”

3. Early Farming Settlers (1848–1870)
Organised settlement began with the arrival of the John Wickliffe in 1848, followed by Scottish Free Church and English families who established farms at Highcliff, Sandymount, Portobello, Hoopers Inlet, and Papanui Inlet. Key families included the Aitkens, Andersons, Beggs, Dicks, Grahams, Sandersons, and wider Scottish groups such as the Buchanans, Campbells, McKays, and McLeods.
“These families typically arrived between 1848 and 1870, taking up small freehold farms…”

4. Archaeological Insights
Bioarchaeological studies show early settlers faced harsh conditions: high infant mortality, strenuous labour, frequent injury, and infection — mirroring working‑class life in Britain.
“High infant mortality… strenuous manual labour… frequent injury and infection…”

20/07/2026

TUESDAY AT THE MUSEUM.

An early photo of Portobello Rd, Broad Bay looking towards where Fletcher House would eventually be built.
Broad Bay was very popular with the Dunedin Elite (eg. Speights, Nees, Fletcher families) as a weekend / holiday destination.
This photo would be late 1800's.
Broad Bay became a fashionable retreat because:
Regular harbour ferries made weekend trips easy.
The bay was marketed as “The Yachtsman’s Paradise” and “The Popular Holiday Resort.”
Wealthy Dunedin families built substantial cribs from 1900–1920, creating a cluster of high‑status holiday homes.
Its distance from the city was “just right”: far enough to feel like a getaway, close enough for quick return.

15/07/2026

TUESDAY AT THE MUSEUM.

Village on the Edge of the World (Taiaroa Head)

What the “village” actually consisted of
Although small, Pukekura developed into a functional service hamlet supporting three overlapping communities:

Lighthouse keepers and families
The lighthouse (1865) required permanent staff, so cottages, workshops, fuel stores, and a fenced compound formed the earliest European village on the headland.

Military personnel (1880s–1940s):
With the arrival of the fortifications, the village expanded to include barracks, officers’ quarters, cookhouses, magazines, and tramway structures. These buildings clustered on the sheltered slopes below the gun pits.

Post‑war conservation and operations staff:
From the 1960s onward, new buildings appeared for albatross conservation, DOC operations, and visitor services — replacing or repurposing earlier military cottages.

02/07/2026

TUESDAY AT OUR MUSEUM.

Unearthed a rather interesting part of our local history which involves the Otago Peninsula (just).

Vauxhall Gardens, Dunedin (1862–1871)

Otago’s Gold Rush Pleasure Grounds
A cliff top amusement park created by entrepreneur Henry Charles Farley, Vauxhall Gardens offered concerts, dancing, sports, exotic animals, fireworks, and even a funicular lift from the harbour jetty. Inspired by London’s famous pleasure gardens, it became a lively escape for Dunedin’s booming Gold Rush population.
Despite its attractions — including a grand rotunda, menagerie, bowling green, skittle alleys, and balloon ascents — the Gardens gained a reputation for rowdy nightlife and prostitution, hastening their decline. By 1871 the venture closed, and the land was later subdivided into the quiet suburb now known as Vauxhall.

Although marketed as a family venue, newspapers soon described the Gardens as overrun at night by “loose women” and “fast young men.” Farley protested the allegations, but the damage stuck: Vauxhall became known as a haunt of prostitution and debauchery, mirroring the mixed reputation of its London namesake.

21/06/2026

MONDAY AT THE MUSEUM
We recently had an inquiry regarding Winton Bay on the Peninsula. After a bit of research this is what we've came up with. Must admit that lots of people hadn't heard of it.

Winton Bay is a small, little documented coastal inlet on the eastern side of the Otago Peninsula, tucked between Allans Beach and the Sandfly Bay / Seal Point area. It appears in older local usage and on some maps, but it is not a formally recognized settlement and has very limited published history. What survives is mostly geographical, farm boundary, and local knowledge material.
What Winton Bay is
• Coastal inlet — A small, shallow bay on the exposed Pacific side of the Peninsula, opening toward the Papanui Inlet / Allans Beach coastline.
• Rural locality — The surrounding land has long been part of Peninsula farming blocks, with no known village, wharf, or commercial activity.
• Access point — Reached only by farm tracks and coastal walking routes; not a public road destination.
Historical context (what we can infer)
There are no dedicated historical articles or official heritage listings for Winton Bay. This absence itself is meaningful: it suggests the bay was never a major landing place, farm homestead, or fishing hub.
However, based on the wider area’s history:
• Early Māori use — The entire eastern Peninsula coast was used seasonally for kaimoana gathering, birding, and travel routes. Winton Bay would have been part of this wider resource landscape.
• 19th century farming — The land blocks around Allans Beach, Seal Point, and Sandymount were taken up by early settler families, whose descendants are still associated with this area, for sheep and cattle grazing. Winton Bay likely served as a natural boundary marker rather than a worked site.
• No known maritime structures — Unlike Portobello, Broad Bay, or Company Bay, there is no evidence of jetties, boat sheds, or shipping activity at Winton Bay.
Where it sits in relation to known landmarks
• North: Allans Beach (public access)
• South: Sandfly Bay / Seal Point
• West: Papanui Inlet flats and farm country
• East: Open Pacific Ocean

Natural character
Even without a strong historical footprint, Winton Bay is part of one of the Peninsula’s richest wildlife corridors:
• Yellow eyed penguins (Hoiho) nest in the wider area.
• Sea lions often haul out on nearby beaches.
• Coastal dune systems similar to Allans Beach and Victory Beach.
Why information is scarce
Our search result confirms that no major online sources describe Winton Bay as a distinct historical site. The name survives mainly in local usage, topographic maps, and farm boundary descriptions. This is typical of several small bays on the exposed eastern Peninsula.

18/06/2026

A early photo taken from up on Ross Pt of Portobello Rd and Bacon St. Suspect taken in early 1900's. The Bacon Family established a farm in the Bay. The colourised photo gives greater depth and appreciation of the general area.

02/06/2026

Tuesday at the Museum.
From Victor Meldrews Phrase book "I dont Believe it!

No-Mans land Steel screw pickets used in WW1
• A steel shaft with a corkscrew base
• Installed by twisting, not hammering → silent
• Had loops along the upper section to thread barbed wire through
• Allowed rapid, quiet construction of deep wire belts in No Man’s Land
• Became universal because they reduced casualties during night wiring parties
• Many are still found on French and Belgian farms today, reused as fence posts

Donated to our Museum by Mr Ally Campbell a regular volunteer.
The Museum is open Sundays 12.30 - 3.30pm

Address

17 Harrington Point Road, Portobello
Dunedin
9014

Opening Hours

12:30pm - 3:30pm

Website

https://portobello.org.nz/our-history/otago-peninsula-museum/

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