The major works in the project to restore one of the city’s most historically significant buildings is in the last stretch.

You might have seen the scaffolding and printed scrim surrounding the Dunedin Railway Station slowly coming down over the past couple of months. The third stage of the project to restore one of the city’s most historically significant buildings is nearly complete and due to be completed in September.

Salmond Reed Architects and construction company Naylor Love started the extensive refurbishment project late 2021. The project has involved a comprehensive restoration of the building’s exterior, conservation of the Marseille terracotta tiled roof, copper clad cupolas, carved stone details and masonry, timber windows, and architectural features like the decorative weathervanes on its historic façade.

The work has involved many specialist tradespeople, including conservation specialists, metal workers, stonemasons, roofers, and painters, among others. The contractors have worked hard to ensure as much of the original building is retained and only replacing parts that were irreparable or too significantly deteriorated. This focus on heritage conservation means the building will look and feel much as it did before.

Often touted as the most photographed building in the country, the Railway Station has been adorned with scaffolding and a printed scrim over its exterior for the past few years which is due to be removed over the next month as the majority of the project is completed.