Dunedin Railway Station, Dunedin

Dunedin Railway Station, Dunedin

The Renaissance Revival-style Dunedin Railway Station building designed by George Troup is an immaculate structure of black basalt rock with white Oamaru limestone outlines and red terracotta shingles, earning it the nickname of 'Gingerbread George'.

The Renaissance Revival-style Dunedin Railway Station building designed by George Troup is an immaculate structure of black basalt rock with white Oamaru limestone outlines and red terracotta shingles, earning it the nickname of 'Gingerbread George'. It was once the busiest station in New Zealand, handling upto 100 trains a day shortly after its inauguration in 1906. Though it handles only sightseeing trains to the Taieri Gorge and Coast today, the grand building stands as a symbol of the city's affluent heritage. A 37-metre tall Italianate clock tower stands at the south end, while the other side has a Gothic spire. The magnificent interiors feature a mosaic floor of almost 750,000 Minton tiles, and a frieze of Royal Doulton porcelain with locomotive and associated symbols. The ground floor is used as a restaurant, and the upper floor houses the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame and the Otago Art Society. The Anzac Square in front of the station hosts a farmers market every Saturday morning.