In 2021, archaeological work took place at 15 Dowling Street, Ōtepoti Dunedin as part of the construction of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) Building. The construction is a joint venture between Ngāi Tahu Property and ACC and is due to be completed by 2025.

The Dowling Street location has a long history of use, including as the site of waka landings, food gathering and early iterations of First Church. Archaeological work has given valuable insight into this history.

Toitū Tauraka Waka (c.1400-1840s)

The ACC Building excavation site is part of Ōtepoti, an area extending from Taiaroa Head to the city of Dunedin – a distance of approximately 16km. This area has been occupied by Māori for at least 600 years.

Situated near Toitū Creek, the site was once soft sloping beach, providing a landing spot for Kāti Māmoe-Kāi Tahu waka and access to resource-rich bush and swampland. Kaik (kāinga) existed intermittently in the area, with a number of Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe and later Kāi Tahu kaik and pā kainga in the wider region.

The colonial establishment of Dunedin resulted in the reclamation of the foreshore and the loss of the landing site. This was intertwined with the loss of the adjacent, contentious, Princes Street Reserve. Find out more in the Toitū Tauraka Waka entry in the New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero.

First Church and School House (1848-1865)

The first wooden church and school were established on the site in September 1848, instigated by Rev Burns and Captain Cargill. A school master’s house was built shortly after in 1851. From Monday to Saturday the building was used as school room but also was used for a variety of meetings and concerts over 17 years. 

Interim Church (1865-1878)

After this time the congregation was such a size that a new church was needed. A grand church was planned but in 1865 a new interim church was built in a simple Grecian form with a basement of bluestone very close to the original church. The original church was converted to a woolshed and was victim of the 1865 Princes Street fire. In 1873 the First Church as we know it today was built and the interim church was sold. 

Sargoods (Dowling Street and High Streets) 

The interim church was bought and occupied by Sargood, Son and Ewen as a boot and shoe factory. Due to their success as a business, a new warehouse of four stories was erected in Lower High Street, Dunedin in 1875. The interim church building was sold and removed in 1878 by David Proudfoot and was used as a tram shed. Sargood’s also sold some of their property at the corner of High and Dowling Street to Donald Reid the same year.  

Donald Reid Building (High and Dowling Street)

Donald Reid built new premises fronting High Street and lower Dowling Street in 1878 after purchasing the corner section of High and Dowling Street from Sargood’s. It was built as two separate buildings with the High Street frontage having three storeys and the Dowling Street building originally having two stories with an additional storey added in 1888.  Nimmo and Blair expanded their seed and grain business into the High Street building in 1885 and their signage is visible in old photos.  

Royal Exchange Hotel, NZ Insurance (High Street)

Situated where the original First Church stood in 1848, the Royal Exchange Hotel was built in 1878 and was designed by R.A. Lawson. It was an impressive building with 70 rooms, with large dining and conference rooms. The Standard Insurance Company purchased the High Street building in 1884 and occupied the central portion of the ground floor. It was demolished in 1969 and became part of the carpark.

Lyceum Theatre

The Lyceum was a public hall built by the Freethought Association in Dunedin. It was opened on 1 May 1882 by freethinker Robert Stout (New Zealand Premier from 1884 to 1887). Freethinkers based their opinions on science, logic and reason rather than on religious belief.

Over the years the building changed its name and function: it was the Lyceum from 1882 to 1893, City Hall from 1893 to 1898, Alhambra Theatre from 1898 to 1911, and Kings Theatre from 1911 to 1921. The building had many uses such as an ice-skating rink, dance hall, auction room, and headquarters of the Air Training Corps and NZ Motoring Engineering Club.

The top floor was demolished in 1989 and the basement was used as a council carpark until its demolition in 1990s. 

Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Club

Built in 1897 in Renaissance style by James Hislop, for the Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Club, the building was a luxurious club rooms which included a billiard room, bar, reading and card rooms. The Theosophical Society took over the building in 1916. It was demolished in 1972-75 as part of the carpark development.

Episode One: What is an archaeologist?

New Zealand Heritage Properties archaeologist Russell explains his role and the importance of archaeology. 

Episode Two: The Role of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

Otago/Southland Area Manager Sarah Gallagher explains the archaeological authority process. 

Episode Three: The Dig (Part One)

Russell and the team from New Zealand Heritage Properties discover the foundations of a building.

Update:

While the foundations were initially thought to be those of the interim First Church (as noted in the video), post-analysis of the features determined that they belonged to the Lyceum building, with the majority of the interim First Church foundations removed.

Episode Four: The Dig (Part Two)

The team uncover the walls, fencing and basement of the former Lyceum building, and encounter asbestos.

Update: 

Asbestos Contaminated Materials (ACM) is something archaeologists frequently come across on excavation sites due to the use of ACM in the building industry for over 100 years. 

Prior to the start of excavations on a project, contaminated land specialists will undertake research and tests to determine what contamination is present subsurface on site and provide guidance on how this should be managed. Contamination may range from hydrocarbons and heavy metals to ACM.

For sites such as this one, the archaeological teams follow protocols outlined by licenced removalists to be sure we’re wearing appropriate personal protective gear (PPE) and all contaminated materials are handled and removed safely.

Episode Five: The Dig (Part Three)

Russell highlights some of his standout discoveries and compares the site layout to historic maps and directories.