Introduction
Life
Resources
Data
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Overview: Background
In the mid 1970s academic historians at
the University of Otago began an intensive
study of the Caversham area of southern
Dunedin in the late nineteenth and early
twentieth century. Later the study was extended
to cover a wider area of southern Dunedin.
This study pioneered the use of micro analysis
of an urban community in New Zealand historical
research. Their work led to a number of
publications and numerous conference presentations.
Virtually all of these fruits of the research
project, however, have been directed at
academic audiences. Little of this work
has been accessible to teachers, students
or the general public.
In May 2002 the Otago Settlers Museum, in
association with the University, mounted
an exhibition 'The Birth of Modern Times:
Dunedin's Southern Suburbs 1890 - 1940'.
It proved to be an outstanding success with
approximately 10,000 visitors viewing the
display over the three months it was open.
This digital exhibition draws on that material
but also adds more detail from the extensive
resources collected by the University over
thirty years including oral history transcripts,
information on local identities and businesses
and maps drawn using historical applications
of geographic information software (GIS).
In addition, a section for school teachers
indicates where this material can be integrated
into the Social Sciences curricula and gives
suggestions on how it might be used with
pupils.
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A recent view of Caversham.
The Baptist Church is below centre left
with the Caversham School adjacent.
(Caversham Project Archives) |
Overlooking Forbury to
the expansive Hillside Workshops site
(top right) with Carisbrook to its left.
(Caversham Project Archives) |
The Mayfair Theatre,
situated on the city centre side of
Cargill's Corner, was originally known
as the King Edward Picture Theatre.
(Caversham Project Archives) |
The building which once
housed Mc Cracken's Store still standing
in Caversham's main Road. (Caversham
Project Archives) |
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Credits]
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