The Architecture of Dunedin Railway Station
Look a little closer
Dunedin Railway Station is recognised for its distinctive architecture, contrasting stonework and richly detailed interior.
Designed by New Zealand Railways architect George Alexander Troup, the station combines monumental scale with the decorative detailing that helped earn Troup the nickname “Gingerbread George”.
It officially opened in 1906 and remains one of Dunedin's most recognisable heritage buildings.
Built to make an impression
The station was designed during a period when Dunedin was an important centre of New Zealand's railway network.
Its long symmetrical façade is centred around the main entrance and clock tower, creating a building intended to signal the importance of both the railway and the city it served.
The contrasting dark and light stonework gives the station much of its distinctive appearance.
Stone from near and far
The exterior combines dark basalt with pale Oamaru stone detailing.
Kokonga basalt was used extensively in the building, with Port Chalmers basalt at its base, while Oamaru stone provides the contrasting dressings.
Granite columns were sourced from Peterhead in Scotland, and the roof was finished with Marseilles tiles.
Together, the materials create the contrasting colours and detailed façade that visitors recognise today.
Step inside
The detailing continues beyond the exterior.
Inside the station, visitors can discover decorative tilework, stained glass, timber details and railway motifs throughout the building.
The mosaic floor of the main booking hall incorporates railway imagery, including a locomotive and New Zealand Railways motifs.
Stained-glass windows also feature locomotives, reinforcing the purpose for which the building was created.
Details with a story
Railway history appears throughout the station in details that can be easy to miss on a quick visit.
One significant feature is a plaque from the locomotive Passchendaele, commemorating railway workers who died during the First World War.
Take time to look up, look down and explore the details around the building. The architecture tells its own part of Dunedin's railway story.
See it for yourself
Dunedin Railway Station can be visited without travelling on a train.
Explore the building as part of your time in central Dunedin, then discover the gardens, businesses and experiences around the station.