Dunedin Northern Cemetery
Encyclopedia
The Dunedin Northern Cemetery is a major historic cemetery in the southern New Zealand
city of Dunedin
. It is located close to Lovelock Avenue on a spur of Signal Hill
close to the Dunedin Botanic Gardens
and the suburb of Opoho
, overlooking Dunedin North
and Logan Park
. The 8 hectares (19.8 acre) site was set aside in 1872, with the last plot being purchased in 1937. The cemetery forms part of Dunedin's Town belt
, a green belt surrounding the inner city.
The cemetery contains many notable graves and tombs, most prominently the mausoleum of William Larnach
, designed by R.A. Lawson as a miniature replica of First Church
. Other notable burials and interments include Thomas Bracken
and Vincent Pyke
.
The sexton's cottage at the entrance to the cemetery contains a visitor's centre. A commemorative lookout, the Bracken Lookout, is located at the southern end of the cemetery, and commands views across the University of Otago
and central city.
The cemetery is listed on the New Zealand Historic Places Trust Register as a Historic Place - Category I.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
city of Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
. It is located close to Lovelock Avenue on a spur of Signal Hill
Signal Hill, New Zealand
Signal Hill is a prominent landform in the city of Dunedin, New Zealand. It is located close to, and due north of, the head of the Otago Harbour and reaches an elevation of 393 m . The suburbs Ravensbourne, St. Leonards, and Opoho lie on its southern, eastern, and northwestern flanks, respectively...
close to the Dunedin Botanic Gardens
Dunedin Botanic Gardens
The Dunedin Botanical Gardens are located at the northern end of central Dunedin, in the South Island of New Zealand. They are located close to the University of Otago and one of the city's most historic cemeteries, the Northern Cemetery, on a spur of Signal Hill and on the river plain immediately...
and the suburb of Opoho
Opoho
Opoho is a suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. It sits on the western flank of Signal Hill, New Zealand, to the northeast of the city centre, overlooking North East Valley and the Dunedin Botanic Gardens....
, overlooking Dunedin North
Dunedin North
Dunedin North, also known as North Dunedin, is a major inner suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin, located to the northeast of the city centre. It contains many of the city's major institutions, including the city's university, polytechnic, main hospital, and largest museum...
and Logan Park
Logan Park, Dunedin
Logan Park is a sporting venue in the city of Dunedin, New Zealand. It lies on land reclaimed from the former Lake Logan.- History :Lake Logan was reclaimed in the early 20th century...
. The 8 hectares (19.8 acre) site was set aside in 1872, with the last plot being purchased in 1937. The cemetery forms part of Dunedin's Town belt
Town Belt
The Town Belt is a green belt which surrounds the centre of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. Covering a total of over , it extends around three sides of the city's centre at a distance from it of some 1-3 km in a broad crescent from the Oval at Kensington in the south through the suburbs of...
, a green belt surrounding the inner city.
The cemetery contains many notable graves and tombs, most prominently the mausoleum of William Larnach
William Larnach
William James Mudie Larnach was a New Zealand businessman and politician. He is known for building Larnach Castle and for his suicide.- Early career :Larnach was born in the Hunter Valley, north of Sydney, Australia...
, designed by R.A. Lawson as a miniature replica of First Church
Moray Place, Dunedin
Moray Place is an octagonal street which surrounds the city centre of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. The street is intersected by Stuart Street , Princes Street and George Street...
. Other notable burials and interments include Thomas Bracken
Thomas Bracken
Thomas Bracken was a noted late 19th century poet. He wrote "God Defend New Zealand", one of the two National anthems of New Zealand and was the first person to publish the phrase "God's Own Country" as applied to New Zealand.-Background and early years:Bracken was born at Clones, County...
and Vincent Pyke
Vincent Pyke
Vincent Pyke was a 19th century politician in Otago, New Zealand and Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia.-Early life:He was born in Somerset, England...
.
The sexton's cottage at the entrance to the cemetery contains a visitor's centre. A commemorative lookout, the Bracken Lookout, is located at the southern end of the cemetery, and commands views across the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
and central city.
The cemetery is listed on the New Zealand Historic Places Trust Register as a Historic Place - Category I.
See also
- Burials at Dunedin Northern Cemetery