Heritage in Central Otago

Central Otago has a very rich heritage based on both its agriculture and gold mining past. Our heritage can be seen throughout Central Otago in many forms and provides us with a strong sense of place and belonging. It tells us a story of where we came from, ties us together as a community and helps to create an identity for who we are as individuals as well as who we are as a district.

Our unique and distinctive heritage ranges from our vast, wide open, breath-taking and sometimes harsh landscapes through to our goldmining relics, mud brick cottages, impressive stone masonry and extraordinary stories of our past. Click here to explore Central Otago’s remarkable heritage.

As we go forward into the future, the community of Central Otago wish to ensure that the act of protecting our magnificent heritage is balanced with celebrating and enhancing it at the same time.

In 2012, a report ‘Towards Better Heritage Outcomes for Central Otago’ was developed setting out community-inspired recommendations for managing the future of Central Otago’s heritage.

There are many recommendations within the report including reviewing how communities can best support local owners to maintain and value the heritage on their properties; encourage the use of heritage in tourism promotion; consider how museums can share resources and support one another and source new avenues of funding for heritage, including the creation of a new heritage fund.

While there are many groups, organisations and individuals  who are involved in various heritage projects within Central Otago, the Central Otago Heritage Trust  has agreed to co-ordinate the implementation of the recommendations within the report.

Heritage Events
Our rich history inspires many heritage related events throughout Central Otago. For a full list of what is happening around the district, click here.

Heritage Funding
There are a number of sources of funding available to support heritage projects. For more information click here.