Bluestone Award
We were delighted to receive the 2023 Bluestone Award for our work on the conservation and restoration of Dunedin Railway Station.
The award celebrates outstanding commitment to the heritage of Dunedin and was presented by Councillor Sophie Barker during the Ōtepoti Dunedin Heritage Festival,
This year’s Bluestone Award recipient, in recognition of their management of the complex, major project – the restoration of the beloved Dunedin Railway Station – is Naylor Love Dunedin!
This multi-year project involved a complete restoration of the 117-year old building’s exterior.
It was carried out in multiple stages all requiring professional experts in their fields, from conservation architects to terracotta tile restoration; cast iron and leadwork; copper clad cupolas; carved Oamaru stone details and masonry; timber windows and more – nothing was ever going to be simple in a large, stately, nearly 120-year old building.
It’s fantastic that a variety of local firms carried out this skilled, specialist work, and all of the contractors worked hard to ensure as much of the original building as possible was retained, and only parts that were irreparable or too significantly deteriorated were replaced.
Every effort was also made to source and utilise period-appropriate materials, techniques and moulds for the build to ensure authenticity throughout the restoration project.
And although there were some challenges, there were little to no major problems or delays, and it was completed within time, preserving a significant and iconic piece of Dunedin’s heritage history.
The whole city can be proud of the amazing results and or everyone involved – all under the capable management of Paul Stevenson and the Naylor Love Dunedin team.
Many thanks to the dedicated team of craftsmen and specialists involved in this project, and to the Dunedin City Council and the Southern Heritage Trust. Read more about the Dunedin Railway Restoration here.
