Northern Cemetery Heritage (Dunedin, Otago) Multi-cache
Northern Cemetery Heritage (Dunedin, Otago)
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Come and explore Dunedin’s 140-year-old Northern Cemetery. You could do this multi in 20 minutes but we suggest you allow at least an hour, so you have time to look at other graves as well as the eight waypoints.
There are over 17,700 souls buried in this cemetery, including many people who made notable contributions to Dunedin’s and New Zealand’s history. The cemetery is a Category I Historic Place and is significant as an early example of a large public general cemetery which, unlike the earlier Southern Cemetery, has not been separated into different religious denominations.
Start: At the start point find a black 2 litre snaplock tucked under the electrical box, just to the right of the main gate as you enter the cemetery. Please borrow a set of eight information brochures kept inside this container. You don't need these to complete the multi, but they will make it much more interesting. The brochures include maps of the cemetery and tell you the stories behind the people buried here.
Then visit eight graves around Dunedin’s Northern Cemetery - one grave from each brochure - and collect the information to find the final. Please remember to return the brochures for the next geocachers to use.
(You are also invited to borrow the brochures to do the heritage walks on later visits to the Cemetery.).
Final is at: South 45 5A.BCD East 170 3E.FGH
Checksum: A + B + C + D + E + F + G + H = 30
Note: You do not need to step on any graves to find the 2 litre clear screwtop.
A: William Larnach - Tragedy Trail #4
Shield above door of mausoleum.
Words inside the garter: Larnach - 188A.
William Larnach was a banker and politician, well-known for building Larnach’s Castle. His mausoleum, a miniature version of First Church, has recently been restored.
B: William Gregg - The Gold Trail #4
Number of words in the bottom line of the headstone = B
You can still smell Greggs coffee being roasted in Dunedin North! The Gregg’s entry in the 1905 Cyclopaedia of New Zealand specified “not one ounce of anything adulterated leaves any of their factories”. Another legacy is #176, #178, #180 and #182 Queen St – once Dale House, constructed in the late 1870s and home for William, wife Eleanor, nine children and four servants. The wings were moved onto separate sections after William’s death from apoplexy.
C: John Scott - Nine Artists #6
Helen Gardner Scott 185X – 1899.
Division needed: X / 2 = C
John Scott was the second Professor (from 1877) and first Dean (from 1891) of Otago University’s Faculty of Medicine. The Scott Building on Great King St opposite the hospital is named after him.
D: Emily McKinnon nee Siedeberg -Intriguing Ladies #6
Buried in the Siedeberg grave.
Go around to head of grave to see inscription at side of monument.
Henry Vauchan - son of Florence Siedeberg - Died Jan 13, 191D
Emily Siedeberg McKinnon was New Zealand’s first woman medical graduate in 1896, with somewhat reluctant support from the Dean Dr Scott. One of the babies she delivered while Superintendent of St Helen's Maternity Hospital was Janet Frame. Emily Siedeberg Place was named in her honour in 1993, as part of Suffrage Centennial Year.
It's not part of this multi but you may want to visit the Balk family grave as you pass, to collect coordinates for Old Pineapple. Oscar Balk was a prominent merchant and first president of the Otago Tramping Club.
E: Thomas Bracken - Gentlemen of Fortune #7
Number of verses of the poem "Not Understood" shown on tomb = V.
Subtraction needed: V - 1 = E
Journalist and newspaper editor Thomas Bracken wrote the poem which became New Zealand’s national anthem (Lawrence clerk John Woods, who wrote the music, is commemorated in Anthem, Central Otago). Some verses of Bracken’s most popular poem “Not Understood” are engraved on his headstone. Just outside the cemetery you will see a monument with the words of "God Defend New Zealand".
Nearby (not part of this multi) is the Parihaka memorial commemorating three political prisoners from Parihaka who are buried here in unmarked graves. An information sheet is included in the set of brochures. The Rongo stone monument and cave used to house prisoners during the day are near to Rockin’ Smurf.
F: Frank Elliott - Angel Walk #12 (Find Horace Elliot's date)
Angel sculpture holding lily. Look for Horace Elliot's date on the side of pedestal.
Horace Elliott died 1Fth Jan 1936
The only place Frank is mentioned is on the 1896 Dunedin Electoral Roll - he was a clerk living in Athol Place, and was no doubt a good responsible citizen. There are two Horace Elliotts, but only one fits the clue.
G: Thomas Saunders - ANZACs at Gallipoli #16
Go around to head of grave to see inscription on side of monument.
Died: Aged G1 years
Gunner Thomas Saunders (regimental number 2/387) served at Gallipoli, dying of disease 28 July 1915. He is enterred [sic] at Alexandria, Egypt.
H: Alexander Darling - Memorial Rose Trail #12
There are four wrought-iron flowers on the front fence of the grave.
Number of petals on each flower (there are more than 4 petals) = P.
Subtraction needed: P - 1 = H
The Northern Cemetery has the best collection of Heritage Roses in New Zealand – over a thousand - and one brochure is focused on the history and symbolism of the roses planted on graves. A Sweet Briar is planted on the Darling’s grave; father and son both named Alexander, and both engineers. Note that the headstone has been reinstated since the photo in the trail guide was taken.
Final: South 45 5A.BCD East 170 3E.FGH
Checksum: A + B + C + D + E + F + G + H = 30
Note: Reach in from the path. You do not need to step on any graves to find the 1 litre black screwtop.
The Southern Heritage Trust has done a wonderful job restoring the cemetery and gathering information on its history, including publishing eight themed cemetery trails which recount the background to graves of particular interest. You can buy your own copies of these brochures for $3 each at the historic 1872 Sexton’s Cottage. The cottage is free to visit. Opening hours are dependent on volunteers, but are currently 2 - 4 pm on the 1st and 3rd Saturday afternoons each month (and often other times as well- look for the "Open" sign). As well as cemetery records there are exhibits outlining the history of the cemetery and the lives of some well-known Dunedin identities. You can also download pdf versions of the themed Northern Cemetery walks.
Additional Hints
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