Ōtepoti Dunedin Heritage Festival 2021
The Ōtepoti Dunedin Heritage Festival will take place from Friday19th to Sunday 21st November 2021
Dunedin Public Libraries' long-term partnership with Southern Heritage Trust means Library visitors have been able to enjoy many superb talks by leading experts in the history and development of Dunedin. With the Southern Heritage Trust's Festival in November, there will be yet more opportunities to explore Dunedin's build Heritage and its place in a modern city.
The focus of the Festival “Future of the Past” is a reference to the sustainable use of our precious historic buildings which must be preserved to retain Dunedin’s special character and community wellbeing.
The 2021 programme features opportunities to explore the adaptive reuse of buildings that we walk past every day and to hear about the future of sustainable conservation from passionate building owners and experts. It offers a rare opportunity to immerse ourselves in our living inheritance from the past and a legacy for our future generations.
Experience Dunedin’s exceptional heritage through a varied programme to engage all ages, cultures and backgrounds. Choose from guided and self guided tours, talks, exhibitions and historic buildings open to the public. A symposium offers presentations focused on the skilful restoration and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings and their sustainability. Book to hear the prestigious Lawson Lecture presented by Sean Brosnahan Toitu curator, “The Nitty Gritty History". Join us for the vintage themed afternoon tea and the presentation of the Dunedin Heritage Festival Bluestone Award to a Dunedin heritage champion. Hanover Hall, the repurposed handsome Baptist Church corner Hanover and King St, is the venue for these three important events.
The Festival aims to increase public appreciation of Dunedin’s distinctive built heritage, and to build community pride, a sense of place and shared New Zealand heritage.
The festival has been adapted to comply with Covid Level 2 guidelines. Most activities are FREE / Koha optional: If a charge applies it is noted in the programme.
Booking is essential for all activities, numbers are limited.
See the full programme and book through the Festival website