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Museum · Dunedin, Otago
Toitū Otago Settlers Museum
Dunedin and Otago history museum, founded in 1898 and refurbished, named Toitū, next to the railway station. Portrait gallery of settlers, the 1872 locomotive Josephine, and a Chinese garden.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Toitū Otago Settlers Museum
The Toitū Otago Settlers Museum was founded in 1898 by the association of early settlers, on the 50th anniversary of Otago's Scottish settlement, and after a major refurbishment completed in 2012 adopted the name Toitū, chosen in a public competition. It sits beside the railway station.
The displays tell the region's history from several perspectives: the first encounters between southern Māori and Europeans in the late 18th century, the arrival of Scottish settlers, the gold rush, Chinese immigrants and city life in the 20th century. The portrait room, with photographs and paintings of settlers, is one of the museum's best-known spaces.
In the transport hall is Josephine, an 1872 steam locomotive, the oldest preserved in the country. Behind the museum, the Dunedin Chinese Garden, opened in 2008, reproduces a traditional Chinese garden with pavilions and ponds, and has a separate entrance.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1 to 2 hours; an extra 30 minutes with the Chinese garden.
Best time
All year; it's a good choice for rainy or cold days. Confirm opening hours before you go.
How to get there
It is in Queens Gardens, in central Dunedin, next to the railway station, about a 5-minute walk from the Octagon.
Tip
The museum usually has free admission; the Chinese garden next door charges its own fee. Combine it with the station in the same morning.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Toitū Otago Settlers Museum
What is in the Toitū museum?
Exhibitions on the history of Dunedin and Otago, a portrait room of settlers, the 1872 locomotive Josephine and, at the rear, the Chinese garden.
Is there an admission fee for the Toitū museum?
The museum’s main galleries are usually free to enter. The adjacent Chinese garden has a separate charge.
Where is the Toitū museum?
In central Dunedin, beside the railway station, a few minutes’ walk from the Octagon.