110. Oamaru Architecture
“Oamaru is New Zealand’s best-kept secret, which is itself the world’s best-kept secret.” — Peter FitzSimons, Australian author
The distinctive limestone buildings of Oamaru, with their neoclassical forms and Corinthian columns, have long fascinated me. There’s something about the combination of grand European architecture, a sparse population, and the long, thin line of blue-and-turquoise sea that feels mysterious and melancholy. It’s like walking into a Giorgio de Chirico painting.
— Thomas McLean, North & South Magazine
Oamaru (population 14,000) is a coastal town in the South Island of New Zealand known for its 19th-century architecture. The well-preserved Victorian precinct has served as the setting of many films and television series. Most recently, it stood in for California in the late 1800s for the Netflix series, East of Eden. The historic buildings are featured in the annual Oamaru Heritage Celebrations (see Post #84) and provide the perfect backdrop for the city’s Steampunk Festival (see Post #64).
During two recent trips to Oamaru, I focused on the architecture rather than the festivals or the people in period costume. Buildings often provide interesting backdrops for street photography; they can frame pedestrians and add compositional interest and complexity to a scene. However, structures with strong characteristics and distinctive personalities can have enough presence to serve as the main subject. In such cases, any people present take on a supporting role.
What’s next?
I’ll share some street scenes from Dunedin next weekend.
What do you think?
I invite you to leave a comment below.
How interesting! Thank you for sharing this... make cheese, not war!! he, he! Excellent color!
I love the Whitestone Cheese Co. Building. "Make cheese, not war," indeed! 😁