Dunedin Gasworks Museum facts for kids
The Dunedin Gasworks Museum is a special place in South Dunedin, New Zealand. It's on the South Island. This museum is one of the very few gasworks museums left anywhere in the world!
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Dunedin Gasworks Museum
What is a Gasworks?
A gasworks was a factory that made gas. This gas was used to light homes and streets. It also helped people cook and heat their houses. The Dunedin Gasworks made gas from coal. It was a very important part of city life for many years.
Exploring the Museum
The museum is inside the old Dunedin Gasworks buildings. You can find it on Braemar Street. The gasworks made gas from 1863 until 1987.
When you visit, you can see many interesting things:
- The engine house is the main part of the museum.
- You can also explore the boiler room and boiler house.
- Don't miss the tall chimney stack.
- There's a fitting shop and a blacksmith's shop too.
The museum has a special collection of five large steam engines. Some of these engines still work! You can also see old gas appliances. These include things people used at home and in factories.
The museum is open for visitors. It's also a cool place for events. People come here for music shows. Even steampunk fans love to gather at the old gasworks!
A Bit of History
The Dunedin Gasworks was very important for New Zealand. It was the first gasworks to open in the country. And it was also the last one to stop making gas.
In the 1970s, the gasworks was at its busiest. It provided coal gas to over 18,000 homes and businesses in Dunedin. Imagine how many people relied on it for light and heat!
Saving the Gasworks
Many of the old gasworks buildings were pulled down in the 1980s. But some important ones were saved! A group of people worked hard to protect them. This group was led by Elizabeth Hinds. She was the Director of the Otago Settlers Museum.
Thanks to their efforts, several buildings are now protected. The New Zealand Historic Places Trust lists them as Category I Historic Places. This means they are very important historical sites.
Opening the Museum
After the gasworks closed, people started thinking about making a museum. This idea came about in the late 1980s. Work to fix up the buildings began in 1989.
The Dunedin Gasworks Museum officially opened its doors on February 3, 2001. A special ceremony was held. Dr. George Emerson, who led the museum's trust, was there. Sir Neil Cossons, from English Heritage, also attended the opening.
