A brief History
A brief History of Waikouaiti
A place in the history books
History buffs will feel right at home in Waikouaiti, which was one of the earliest settlements in the area and is the site of the country’s oldest farm.
The town boasts three Grade 1 listed historic buildings: St John’s Anglican Church, Matanaka Farm and our 1869 BNZ Bank building. The early Post Office (north of the town) is a Grade 2 listed heritage building.
A brief history
Waikouaiti, well known as the birthplace of Otago, was first settled by Maori as it was rich in land and sea-based food sources. Whalers came next, followed by the first colonists who began landing in 1837; some heading for inland parts, and some deciding to settle in the area, then known as Hawkesbury. Waikouaiti was to have been the site for Dunedin but the harbour was too shallow. The first commercial buildings were erected closer to the bay than they are today, as Beach Street was then the main street.
Waikouaiti Museum
The building which currently houses the Museum collection dates from 1869 and has recently been classified as a Grade 1 listed historic building by the Historic Places Trust. It is one of an increasingly small number of buildings designed by well-known architect RA Lawson still in use in New Zealand. For more detail about the origins of the Museum, visit our About Us page.
Matanaka Farm
Matanaka Farm dates from around 1840 and is believed to be Otago's earliest farm, boasting New Zealand's oldest surviving farm buildings. Built on an exposed headland overlooking Waikouaiti for prominent Otago whaler and businessman John (Johnny) Jones, the group of farm outbuildings is made up of stables, a granary, schoolhouse, and three-seater privy.
A Grade One historic building, the Matanaka Farm reserve is open to the public, providing a rare insight into how life was lived early in Otago's history. It can be found by following the signposts from SH1, on the northern approach to Waikouaiti.
Please be aware that the road to the farm is private and is closed to public access from 14 August to 30 September - the lambing season.
St John the Evangelist Church
Opened in 1858, St John's is reputed to be the first Anglican Church built in Otago and Southland and is the oldest surviving church building in Otago and Southland. It was designed by Benjamin Woolfield Montfort, who did not think wood was an impediment to Gothic style, and this church is a good example of that.
Old Post Office
A grade 2 listed building, Waikouaiti’s Old Post Office was opened in 1907 and stayed in service for 82 years. Sited on the main road on the northern approach to the town, the original public counter and mail sorting rooms now house the gallery and studio of two talented artists, potter Peter Gregory and painter Laura Gregory.
The gallery/studio is open to the public on Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sun afternoons from 1-5pm.
Historic buildings
Read the fascinating stories of Waikouaiti’s historic buildings.