Oamaru is a town on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. These days it’s still a vibrant place with much more going on than might be expected in a town with a population of around 13,000, including an opera house, a repertory theatre, and several fine cafés. But in the 1880s it was a much more prominent centre, the service town for a major wool- and grain-producing area with a busy export port.
Other coastal centres grew, taking over Oamaru’s commercial importance and leaving it with a sense of faded grandeur, including a fine assortment of surviving Victorian edifices that reflected the town’s significance and wealth, built from the locally quarried limestone known as Oamaru Stone.
If the town had boomed during the 20th century, it’s likely that many of these buildings would have been demolished in the name of progress. But because it became something of a backwater, the buildings were left alone, and in more recent years lovingly cared for by the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust.
Oamaru makes great use of its heritage buildings, including the Victorian Heritage Celebrtions held each November. Activities during the celebrations include plays, readings, a soirée (I at once hear “soyree” said in Lizzie’s ringing tones) in one of the fine homesteads, a ball in full evening dress, and a grand parade. Visitors and locals alike are encouraged to dress in Victorian style, and the whole event is huge fun, thanks to the stalwarts who put so much work into organising it.
This year was our third visit to the festival, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.
More from this year’s parade:
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I found you! :o)
I went to a Dickens parade in Galveston, Texas, once about twenty years ago. Galveston, too, has been left behind by the tides of time and has some lovely old 19th Century buildings. The parade participants dressed in historically authentic garb. It was lots of fun. Plus we had a big laugh when the elephant (decorated in Victorian style) decided to relieve himself – both ways. It was, um, high-pressure one way and substantial the other.
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Galtex! How great to see you here!
It’s probably for the best that they don’t have any elephants in the parade. 🙂
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Is there going to be another book after…after the roses? I already read the book as I pre-ordered, would like to know if Daisy became a doctor, if Bengy became an actor. Does Amy ever fall in love…sarah millish ever change her views on marriage. I also really liked Uncle John and Incle Harry – just wondering about their characters…or there children, granchildren. You wove a really nice story, some of the minor characters what happens to them? What about Thomas or George – do they marry and have kids..
Can you write a book, another one that talks about these characters as well. I really enjoyed the books. The first book – sentence of marriage – I fall in love with any, always wished she had found love.
Anyway, would like to know if your planning on any further writing…
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Yes, there will be more books to come – I want to follow the journey of Daisy and her contemporaries further, too! I’d also like to tell Thomas and George’s stories. As you know, it takes me a while to write a book! But I do have plenty of stories in my head, waiting to be told.
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That looks amazing! I’d love to attend a parade like this. Too bad I didn’t live closer… *grin*
Hope all is well with you, Shayne.
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Yes, good as it is, it’s a *bit* far to come. 🙂
Lovely to see you, Traci! All is very well, thank you.
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I love your books!!! I’m on Second Chances & the characters seem so real. Can’t Waite to read Daiseys War & War of Roses?? Keep them coming. Sincerely,Eugenia Bemis, Carlsbad, N.M.
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Thanks, Eugenia! They seem very real to me, too.
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I have read all your books so far and love them, can’t put them down once I start. I’ve been to NZ twice and love it, hope to come back again, so can picture the countryside while reading your stories. Look forward to your next book so please keep them coming.
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Thanks, Robin! I hope you do visit New Zealand again some day.
Lovely to think of you visualising the countryside while reading my books!
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Hi My name is Shirley what Week this year is Heritage Week
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Hi Shirley,
According to their web site, it’ll be 15th-19th November: http://www.vhc.co.nz/
Further details will be added closer to the time. Looks like a particularly interesting theme this year!
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