Harbour Board Building2 Harbour Street
Oamaru's Heritage Precinct Buildings
Most of the Trust's sixteen buildings were built during the period 1870's – 1880's and are today New Zealand's most complete streetscape of Victorian mercantile buildings. The buildings are constructed of locally quarried Oamaru Stone (limestone). The easily carved stone lent itself perfectly to the creation of the elaborate Neo-Classical style so favoured by the clients of Oamaru's busiest architect at the time, Thomas Forrester.
The Trust is fortunate there are stone masons in Oamaru today who have the skills to restore the buildings to their former grandeur. The restoration of the buildings and tenanting them with unique businesses, artisans and crafts people is part of the on going commitment the Trust has of preserving and developing Oamaru's Heritage Precinct.
Tour the Precinct
If you would like to take a walking tour of the heritage precinct and view the buildings, you will find a QR code displayed in the window of each building. Scan the code to access the history of that building. There is also a walking tour available through the Waitaki Geopark app.
If you start your tour at 2 Harbour Street and walk down Harbour Street - then back up Tyne Street to the Criterion Hotel
