In a digital world the actual reality of a neighbourhood and sense of community is to be valued.
Beyond the bricks and mortar of homes there are significant tangible benefits. It is an extremely important fabric of society where friends and connections are made. The benefits of this have been particularly evident during the health challenges faced since early 2020, where the willingness of neighbours to provide support when needed has been impressive.
Dunedin neighbourhoods are connected to suburbs, and there are many and varied, each having its own history and character. Our neighbourhood is located in Waverley. An understanding of its past has helped forge its future.
Situated on a prominent head land overlooking Otago Harbour, it is named after the novel Waverley written by Sir Walter Scott.
The land that it stands on was originally owned by the Rev Thomas Burns, who became the inaugural chancellor of Otago University. His uncle was the famous Scottish poet Robert "Robbie" Burns. Much of the land comprised the Grants Braes dairy farm, and that name is now attached to the local primary school. Larnach Rd is named after William Larnach, founder of Larnach’s castle.
He and a business partner also owned an ornate hotel on the corner of what is now Doon St and Portobello Rd, and Larnarch spent time living there while the castle was being built. Subsequently it was used as a stopover/resting place en route by coach to the castle. Remnants of the old coach road are still visible today. The former hotel is now commonly referred to as the White House, but sadly, unlike its American namesake, has been in a state of deterioration for many years.
Much of Waverley’s growth has occurred in the past 50 years with something of a building boom during this time. There are some spectacular harbour views which are ever-changing.
Ships come and go on a regular basis, gracefully guided by the sturdy and ever-reliable tugboats. Early-morning rowers flex their muscles with yachts and other small craft appearing frequently throughout the day. Occasionally a well-camouflaged naval vessel will slip quietly and unobtrusively to berth. Birdlife is prolific in variety and habit with the migrating birds of particular interest.
Weather changes can suddenly transform the harbour from relative calm to within minutes becoming a violent, seething mass of waves driven by powerful winds. One also thinks of the early sailing ships arriving in port with immigrants from Scotland, having been at sea on occasions for months before starting a new but uncertain future in this distant province and land.
Waverley’s topography is a little reminiscent of San Francisco minus the trams. Streets rise, fall and twist maze-like across an indented landscape. It is essentially a pleasant, peaceful and neighbourly place to live.
There are some good amenities too, including an impressive local garage, a popular cafe, friendly hairstylists, a corner dairy, takeaways and an integrated medical centre and pharmacy. There are also a couple of community churches and several Lilliput Libraries that pop up in unexpected locations. In an age of increasing uncertainty, the strength of our neighbourhoods and communities is more important than ever. They are worth supporting and enhancing wherever we live in this beautiful city of Dunedin.
- Joss Miller is a retired Dunedin lawyer.
