Dunedin Steam Festival
9 May 2013
The importance of steam to Otago's development was celebrated in style at Labour Weekend 2012 in Dunedin.
The Dunedin Steam Festival , organised by Southern Heritage Trust, highlighted the importance of steam in powering the engineering and commercial enterprises which made the city the most important in New Zealand. It also acknowledged the centenary of New Zealand's largest steamship, the TSS Earnslaw, built in Dunedin. The steam locomotive Ka 942 was brought down from the North Island to Dunedin for excursions, and the whole community got behind the theme, organising a range of steam-related activities for enthusiasts and families, including a Steampunk ball. Many activities were centred around the historic Dunedin Railway Station. The Otago Community Trust donated $7,500 towards organising the Festival.