ABOUT OUR TRUST
The Southern Heritage Trust is the only registered charitable trust devoted to Otago’s social, cultural, architectural and industrial heritage. We provide advocacy for threatened heritage structures, and run successful events, tours and talks for like-minded people who appreciate all our wonderful heritage.
Otago, and in particular Dunedin, has more heritage structures still standing than any other region in New Zealand, so it makes sense that there is an outlet for all those who share our passion.
The Trust has a strong membership and programme of heritage events, both for public and exclusively for Trust members, including the Ōtepoti Dunedin Heritage Festival which we co-run every two years.
OUR HISTORY
The Southern Heritage Trust was set up in December 2002 and incorporated as a Charitable Trust in May 2003. It came about partly as a result of the abolition of the Otago committee of the then Historic Places Trust (now Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga), an organisation we continue to maintain strong links with. In collaboration with others, the Trust has contributed towards a range of heritage issues and projects for the past 20 years.
We are also fortunate have a facility in the historic Sexton’s Cottage at Dunedin’s Northern Cemetery. This is by arrangement with the Dunedin City Council, and in return we have developed an information centre, themed walking trails and The Northern Cemetery website where you can browse and search the cemetery's burial records.
