University of Otago鈥檚 Professorial Houses, Dunedin
The University of Otago鈥檚 Professorial Houses are among the most architecturally and historically significant structures on the Dunedin campus. Located along St David Street at the northern edge of the university grounds, these elegant residences were originally built between 1878 and 1879 to accommodate the institution鈥檚 earliest professors and their families. Designed as part of architect Maxwell Bury鈥檚 original scheme, the houses form a key component of a broader ensemble that includes the iconic Clocktower Building, the Chemistry Building, and the School of Mines.
The Professorial Houses stand out for their distinctive domestic Gothic or romantic Gothic style, which incorporated elements of the emerging Queen Anne movement popularized by British architect Richard Norman Shaw. These red-brick structures were notable for their narrow but tall three-storey profiles, gabled roofs, and a mix of roof and window shapes that initially startled conservative tastes in Dunedin. Despite early skepticism, the homes were praised for their generous interiors and dignified presence. They were arranged in two well-balanced blocks, separated by private gardens and screened from the main campus by plantings, giving them a sense of quiet autonomy within the growing university precinct.
Initially, the residences were allocated based on academic seniority rather than by name. Among the first occupants were Professor John Shand (Mathematics and Natural Philosophy), Professor Duncan MacGregor (Mental and Moral Philosophy), Professor James Gow Black (Chemistry), and Professor Frederick Hutton (Natural Science). Over time, changes in faculty and the needs of the university led to a reshuffling of residents. By the mid-20th century, the buildings were no longer private homes; instead, they were gradually converted into departmental offices and classrooms, marking a shift in function while preserving their historical integrity.
Today, the Professorial Houses are known by the names of influential early academics-Shand, MacGregor, Black, and Sale-and continue to play an active role in university life. Scott Shand House now hosts Student Services, while Black Sale House is used by the University Flats program and the Department of Music.
The Professorial Houses stand out for their distinctive domestic Gothic or romantic Gothic style, which incorporated elements of the emerging Queen Anne movement popularized by British architect Richard Norman Shaw. These red-brick structures were notable for their narrow but tall three-storey profiles, gabled roofs, and a mix of roof and window shapes that initially startled conservative tastes in Dunedin. Despite early skepticism, the homes were praised for their generous interiors and dignified presence. They were arranged in two well-balanced blocks, separated by private gardens and screened from the main campus by plantings, giving them a sense of quiet autonomy within the growing university precinct.
Initially, the residences were allocated based on academic seniority rather than by name. Among the first occupants were Professor John Shand (Mathematics and Natural Philosophy), Professor Duncan MacGregor (Mental and Moral Philosophy), Professor James Gow Black (Chemistry), and Professor Frederick Hutton (Natural Science). Over time, changes in faculty and the needs of the university led to a reshuffling of residents. By the mid-20th century, the buildings were no longer private homes; instead, they were gradually converted into departmental offices and classrooms, marking a shift in function while preserving their historical integrity.
Today, the Professorial Houses are known by the names of influential early academics-Shand, MacGregor, Black, and Sale-and continue to play an active role in university life. Scott Shand House now hosts Student Services, while Black Sale House is used by the University Flats program and the Department of Music.
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University of Otago鈥檚 Professorial Houses on Map
Sight Name: University of Otago鈥檚 Professorial Houses
Sight Location: Dunedin, New Zealand (See walking tours in Dunedin)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Dunedin, New Zealand (See walking tours in Dunedin)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Dunedin, New Zealand
Create Your Own Walk in Dunedin
Creating your own self-guided walk in Dunedin is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Dunedin Introduction Walking Tour
Mark Twain had a way of dressing compliments in sarcasm, and when he visited Dunedin in 1895, he couldn鈥檛 resist. Looking around at the Scottish settlement on New Zealand鈥檚 southern coast, he quipped: 鈥淭he people are Scotch. They stopped here on their way from home to heaven-thinking they had arrived.鈥�
The city of Dunedin carries a name that reflects its Scottish roots. The word comes... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
The city of Dunedin carries a name that reflects its Scottish roots. The word comes... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
University of Otago Historical Buildings Walk
The University of Otago, founded in 1869, is New Zealand鈥檚 oldest university, and its early buildings remain some of the most distinctive in the country. The story of these structures is tied to Dunedin鈥檚 wider history. When gold was discovered in Otago in the 1860s, the city boomed into a wealthy provincial capital, eager to match the institutions of Europe. Education became a central part of... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles