Otepoti Dunedin Architecture: A Walking Guide by John Walsh and Patrick Reynolds

This perfectly sized pocket guide is a must-have for anyone walking the streets of Dunedin and wanting to know more about the extraordinary Victorian, Edwardian and modern buildings in this city in Aotearoa New Zealand.

John Walsh is an award-winning architecture writer, and Patrick Reynolds specialises in architectural photography, so they are a dream team to create this book.

The book is organised into seven walking routes, with easy-to-follow maps, that will take you from the city centre, with the Octagon and Princes Street and beyond and also out to the peninsula and St Clair.

This guide reveals Dunedin’s transformation from a small colonial outpost in the 1840s to the sudden wealth of the 1860s, brought by the discovery of gold.

There are so many remarkable buildings to learn more about, including St Paul’s Cathedral, Speight’s Brewery, Bracken Court, Olveston, Larnach Castle and Holy Name Church.

Everyone visiting Dunedin should purchase a copy of this well-considered book for their next trip. It is guaranteed to bring the buildings to life, along with the history, the design and the importance of these places.  It’s a deep dive into 135 buildings, with information that will delight and surprise.

The photography captures everything from grand terrace homes to 1880s commercial buildings to more modern landmarks.  This is a celebration of different architectural styles and their importance in our cities.

Reviewer: Karen McMillan

Massey University Press