After a three-year journey, the refurbishment of Dunedin’s historic Railway Station is complete.

The scaffolding and scrim covering the building for the past few years was recently taken down, revealing the building in its entirety for the first time since 2021.

First opened in 1906, the 117-year-old railway station is listed as a Category 1 Historic Place and is often touted as one of the most photographed buildings in the southern hemisphere.

While the building has been maintained over the years, due to its age it was showing signs of decline, and its exterior needed extensive work to address defects that had begun to appear.

Recognising the building’s importance, the Dunedin City Council embarked on a project to refurbish and conserve it for the future. The work was completed in three stages, and required specialised scaffolding and scrim (printed with an image of the building) to protect it from the weather.

The DCC sought help from specialist conservation architects, carpenters, roofers, stonemasons, metal workers, and painters to care for the building. Key elements of the work included conservation of the Marseille terracotta roof tiles, copper cupolas, stone and masonry, windows, and decorative weathervanes.

Contractors worked hard to ensure as much of the original building was retained, only replacing components that were irreparable or significantly deteriorated. The focus on careful repair means that the work won’t be easily noticed – the hallmark of a successful building conservation project.