Sheep shipping and more penguins

Mon Jan 18:

Today a couple hour drive to Oamaru,

and a  historical stop to learn about sheep, refrigeration, and butchering at Totara Station. In the 1880s, this is where the first ship full of frozen sheep was organized and sent to England. The success of this venture paved the way for the next century of New Zealand’s agricultural economy. This fascinating historical site reminded Laura of Duke Homestead in Durham, which similarly was about how a technological innovation can lead to immense economic development for a region.

In Oamaru, we took the girls to yet another beautiful botanic garden playground and enjoyed the Victorian era buildings. As a result of the Totara Station innovations, Oamaru was once one of NZ’s leading cities. They proudly showed that off with erecting a lot of stately buildings, many of which are still standing and look pretty untouched because, when the shipping industry moved elsewhere, Oamaru turned into a ghost town and the buildings were never demolished or updated. Very cool.

More penguin watching at Oamaru in the evening.