Tales From Darkest Dunedin

18/12/2025

For ever, it seems, there's been an old tin shed beside the road between Green Island and Waldronville. Today, while driving past, instead of merely seeing it I looked at it.

And realised what it was made of.

In June 1940, NZ Highway Constructors Ltd had empty metal drums for sale. Next year they were offering to buy them. Why? The owner, Septimus Owen, was turning them into roofing iron due to the wartime shortage of new corrugated iron sheet.

Old bitumen drums were cut open, flattened, then corrugated using equipment made for the purpose.

I'd read about the sheets but not seen any until today. And I knew the Owens' resting place well. It's possibly the oddest grave I've ever seen but a genuine labour of love. Originally made for Septimus' wife Agnes, it has her moulded likeness and is painted a shade of blue that was her favourite. The family has repainted it since, these pictures were taken in 2022 - it looks like new.

16/12/2025

Today I had customers cash in a walking tour they won in a raffle and we had a great time! If you have any vouchers lying around, email us! I know using vouchers for experiences is a hassle, you gotta find the time and good weather but we'll have fun, promise. [email protected]

I was so pleased to see such care taken of this beautiful building today, all this man power and machinery to fix what seemed like a small issue, a bent spire.

08/12/2025

From grand residence to grand residence. Just another day at work.

04/12/2025

Got any burning questions?

We have a walking tour booked for this afternoon and while getting ready, we thought we'd answer some questions people might have about Ōtepoti Dunedin and its surrounding areas.

Ask away!

15/11/2025

Today was Gregor's presentation during the Ōamaru heritage festival.

See his topic here!
https://youtu.be/31VzL-Mt-CA?si=j3UetVYOvcXaEior

13/11/2025

Wake up, babe. New tour just dropped

You can do this one now the weather is settled or take the tour in a van and rest your feet but whatever you do, email us for local's prices [email protected]

Otepoti/Dunedin was settled by Free Church Presbyterians in 1848. They worked hard and went to church on Sunday. The gold rush in 1861 brought with it a completely different population to the one first envisioned - a much more lively and less law abiding one. Your guides have spent years curating t

10/11/2025

On November 11, 1918, the guns of war went silent and the soldiers who had lived through it, all could think of the future.

George Tyler's future was not as rosy as other men's. He came home to find his family broken. His wife had put their children into care and was living with, of all people, a deserter from the army.

George divorced his wife. He got a job running Sweeting's Supper Rooms in Lower Stuart street. But depression and money worries were too much for him.

Two years after the end of the war George ended his life with a borrowed shotgun.

He was as much a casualty of the war as those left behind in Europe.

Sweetings, as well as owning the Supper Rooms, were buyers of rabbit skins. Their painted sign can still be seen, on the wall of the alleyway opposite the Courthouse.

Full story here: https://otagotaphophile.blogspot.com/2025/11/39362-private-george-henry-tyler.html?m=0

07/11/2025

We're 51 followers away from 2000. So we need either 1 follower or 51 followers because I can't be working with these odd numbers.

What the heck do we even do?

If you've ever passed a cemetery and thought, gosh I'd love to know the stories in there, we're your people. You've walked by the old buildings in town every day on your way to work and thought, huh, I wonder if someone was ever murdered there, we're your people.

Summer is always busy with tourism but send us an email and we will fit you in, I'm mostly just bragging.

Oh and don't forget to follow so I don't have to sit with an odd number.

02/11/2025

Thanks again for your donations! We're all sorted and look forward to doing more fundraising when we can.

The Halloween True Crime walking tour and van tour is available to book, email [email protected] and we'll work out a local's group price. Perfect for parties if you like being trauma bonded.

31/10/2025

Halloween tour done! Thanks to the people who braved the weather but it could have been worse! It could always be worse.

Ps, I've drawn in the people who wanted to remain anonymous. Millie the steam engine thanks you xx

31/10/2025

Our Halloween tour is on tonight, rain, hail or shine. We'll bring a microphone and speaker if it's too windy and split groups into two if need be.

This is why we don't take bookings in spring! Just show up, 6.30pm at Toitū Otago Settlers Museum at Josephine's window. $15 donation for Ocean Beach Railway .
Wheelchair friendly, carers attend free, depraved yet true stories abound.