Between 1843 and 1860, a Scottish Presbyterian settlement in Otago was planned and promoted, settlers were recruited and despatched, and a primitive settlement centred on Dunedin was established.
It was a challenging task, requiring hard graft and determination to carve out new homes amidst the colonial mud and bush. Much had to be built from scratch. Basic commodities were in short supply and prices were high. The muddy conditions earned Dunedin the nickname 'Mud-edin'. The first houses, wattle and daub cottages, were erected using materials available close at hand.
See what it was like to live in such a dwelling in our replica cottage. As traditions from home were adapted to colonial conditions, something new began to emerge: A New Edinburgh at the bottom of the world.
