Oamaru stone is used on many of Otago's older structures, like this bridge arch in Oamaru.Houses in Oamaru using Oamaru stone.Weathered cornice and decorated keystones in the harbour area of Oamaru.The distinctive combination of dark basalt and Oamaru stone is seen in buildings such as Dunedin Railway Station (centre left) and Law Courts (right).
Oamaru stone, sometimes called whitestone,[1] is a hard, compact limestone, quarried at Weston, near Oamaru in Otago, New Zealand.
Oamaru stone was used on many of the grand public buildings in the towns and cities of the southern South Island, especially after the financial boom caused by the Central Otago goldrush of the 1860s. Initially used primarily in Oamaru itself, it became popular in Dunedin in around 1866, with the University of Otago's Registry Building being the first major structure in the city to make use of it.[2]
The city of Dunedin and town of Oamaru both have many fine examples of Oamaru stone edifices, such as St Patrick's Basilica. The stone was used widely on buildings in many parts of New Zealand, including in the construction of both the Town Hall and the Chief Post Office in Auckland.[3]
The stone has been prominently used in combination with the more hard-wearing bluestone basalt found in many parts of the southern South Island, creating a distinctive style of dark grey basalt walls with lighter Oamaru stone facings. Notable buildings to use this combination include the Dunedin Railway Station, Otago University Registry Building, Dunedin Law Courts, and Christchurch Arts Centre. In Oamaru itself the stone is most commonly found as the primary construction material, with many of the town's more notable buildings (such as the Waitaki District Council building) showing its distinctive creamy colour.
Its ease of working also appeals to sculptors and examples of Oamaru stone sculpture can be found throughout New Zealand.
^"Oamaru whitestone", Rough Guides. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
^"Limestones", Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, vol 8 (1875), pp. 138–148.
^McLauchlan, Gordon, ed. (1984). Bateman New Zealand Encyclopedia. David Bateman Limited. ISBN 0-908610-21-1.
Oamarustone, sometimes called whitestone, is a hard, compact limestone, quarried at Weston, near Oamaru in Otago, New Zealand. Oamarustone was used on...
Oamaru (/ˌɒməˈruː/ ; Māori: Te Oha-a-Maru) is the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, it is the main town in the Waitaki District...
widely used, and is the main construction material (often with facing of Oamarustone, a local compact limestone) in many of the notable historic buildings...
marble-like stone widely used as a building stone for interior and exterior wall cladding and interior and exterior paving Oamarustone — a creamy limestone...
landmarks is the use of dark basalt blocks and facings of cream-coloured Oamarustone, a form of limestone mined at Weston in North Otago. Notable buildings...
allowed for substantial stone edifices to be constructed, using hard, dark breccia stone and a local white limestone, Oamarustone, among them Maxwell Bury's...
The main entry, facing the city, was by a covered carriage porch of Oamarustone bearing a number of carvings, and which led to the Great Hall. Inside...
(52 ft) in height. The walls are in black basalt with dressings of white Oamarustone, a combination for which Dunedin and Christchurch architecture is noted...
Much of the stone used for the Castle came from a basalt quarry nearby. Other materials included yellow brick, Glasgow brick, Oamarustone, Port Chalmers...
Western AustraliaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback Oamarustone — Hard, compact bryozoan limestone. Granular and creamy white, it usually...
comparable cultural history. Jerusalem stone, a type of limestone used in building since ancient times. Oamarustone or whitestone, a type of limestone from...
The building features a large circular geometric tracery window of Oamarustone above the Margaret Street arched doorway. The stained glass lead lighting...
constructed of dark basalt from Kokonga in the Strath-Taieri with lighter Oamarustone facings, giving it the distinctive light and dark pattern common to many...
of arrival and change. At the Civic Square base of the bridge are two Oamarustone sculptures by Matt Pine, titled Prow and Capital. A plaque here states:...
landmarks is the use of dark basalt blocks and facings of cream-coloured Oamarustone, a form of limestone mined at Weston in North Otago. Notable buildings...
complex ended. The resulting two large ranges were of bluestone with Oamarustone facings and slate roofs on foundations of Port Chalmers breccia. A contemporary...
moulds for the window and sanctuary arches, then the main altar from Oamarustone. Short of work, Feldon sent a circular offering his services to every...
March 2021. Patterson, Gus (8 November 2019). "Couple loves heritage". Oamaru Mail. Retrieved 26 March 2021. "St Andrew's Presbyterian Church and Warden's...
the south bank of the Waitaki River, 60 kilometres (37 mi) northwest of Oamaru. The name is an Anglicised form of the Māori name of the nearby mountain...
cheese companies. The company is based in Oamaru, and takes its name from the limestone known as Oamarustone which is quarried locally. The cheese is...
is a notable example of Edwardian Gothic-revival, with red brick and Oamarustone façade, along with grand internal entrances, staircases and original...
Bartley and built in 1884 for Dr Purchas. Expensive English red brick and OamaruStone detailing is used on the facades. The bronze shop window frames and Mintons...
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