This is a free day with no events planned so we decided to investigate a grave of one of Anne's Great Great Grandmothers (Harriet Wilson, nee Venner).We found we could catch a bus part of the way despite the fact that Dunedin does not really believe people would want buses on a Sunday and with difficulty - my navigational skills are getting worse, found the right bus stop and in due course we were picked up, told the driver where we wanted to go and sat right up front. He was a chatty soul and we talked about living in Dunedin etc and as the bus emptied and we were the only passengers left he offered to take us much closer to the cemetery than the actual bus route. Google maps had told us it was a 12 minute walk but they got that one wrong. Even after the driver had probably reduced the journey by at least half it still took twenty minutes or so and most of that was uphill. Still the day was sunny, we were very close to the sea and the views were lovely.
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| Anderson's Bay Cemetery |
I had the block number from the Dunedin online cemetery search, and a map, so went straight to the place, but then spent half an hour walking up and down the rows, and the ones either side, with no joy. The NZSG transcribed the headstones here many years ago, and I have a copy of Harriet's monumental inscription, so I know it did exist. The only thing I can think of is that it has been vandalised and the remains tidied away.
After the Cemetery search we walked down the hill to the first bus stop we found only to discover the timetables only covered Monday to Saturday. We had checked online and there should have been a bus but.... so off we set walking. We knew we could always get a cab but the day was nice, the air fresh and clean and the old homes and cottages neat to see so we walked, and walked, and walked until we reached the point that we were close to the street Anne's G.G. Gmother lived in, so we decided to check it out. Regretfully it is now an industrial site. Ah well, them's the breaks.
Back to the main road and at last we found a bus stop with a Sunday Timetable. By this time our legs were really complaining (8 km walked so far today according to Anne's fitbit) so we thankfully sat and patiently waited and in due course, lo and behold, it was our previous driver but coming from a totally different street. He brought us into town and we then wandered up the main shopping street.
We came upon a photographic exhibition put on by the Dunedin Community Gallery, of the People of South Dunedin. Shots of 34 of the locals, with a biographical note of what they do, and their comments about their home suburb. It was really well done, and made us want to know the people.
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| People of South Dunedin |
Further on the Knox Presbyterian Church appeared, a lovely old structure. I think, although haven't checked yet, that some of my rellies were married here, and since it was open - not always a given in NZ - we had a look around. It was built in 1860, rebuilt in 1877 when they ran out of room, and updated in the 1960's, so the inside was not quite as historical as I had hoped.
On to the Otago Museum.This is a very new building and is extremely impressive. I must admit my legs had totally given up by this time although it had been my wish to come here so I found a really comfortable armchair and let Anne do the exploring for both of us.
I checked out the early Maori history in the area, and was impressed at how well they have done their displays. I then found a special exhibition on Maori women of the local tribe, with panels for each individual. Most had photos, bio's, and a mini family tree. Like the South Dunedin exhibition, they all looked like people we wanted to know. Many are still alive, and all have made a mark on society.
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| Otago Museum |
A gentle walk back to the hotel and here we are. Off early tomorrow, as we want to be at Oamaru before the 10 am Anzac Parade closes the streets.
Total mileage for the day - 12k
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