Totara Estate situated south of Oamaru is an historic farm that is highly significant as the birthplace of New Zealand's billion dollar frozen meat industry.

Totara Estate was established during the 1850s and was known for its sheep, cattle and grain. It was purchased by the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, a Glasgow-based company in 1866.  The Company's affairs in New Zealand were overseen by colonial agent, John Douglas, and the newly appointed superintendent Thomas Brydone.  Brydone applied his comprehensive knowledge of farming to improving the Company's estates.  He proved invaluable at Totara Estate -within ten years, it had prospered greatly and nearly doubled its value.

Because of the downturn in wool prices during the 1870s, New Zealand pastoralists were extremely interested in the results of the first frozen meat shipment from Australia to Britain in 1880. Once this proved successful, W.S. Davidson, the general manager for the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, began to organise a similar venture from New Zealand. 

He instructed Brydone to have a slaughterhouse built at Totara (1881), and subsequently sent the first shipment of meat from the estate to Port Chalmers in 1882. The meat was frozen onboard the ship 'Dunedin', which had a steam-powered Bell-Coleman refrigeration system installed, and the meat arrived successfully in Britain. By the end of the 1890s the export of frozen meat had become (and remains) of considerable importance economically, politically and socially, to New Zealand. 

In 1980 the Totara Estate farm buildings were purchased by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust/Pouhere Taonga, with the assistance of a number of grants including one from the New Zealand Meat Board. The Trust restored the buildings during 1981-1982, creating displays (housed primarily in the former cookhouse) which illustrate the early history of Totara and the development of the frozen meat.

Opening Hours:
10am - 5pm daily, November-April
10am-4pm daily, May, September & October
Closed except by prior arrangement, June-August.

Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday

DAILY GUIDED TOURS
Living history at its best.......

Join our guided tour as history comes alive at one of New Zealand's most important heritage sites. Hear about the big idea that launched New Zealand onto the world stage. Come face to face with a swagger from the past - the likes of Ned 'The Shiner' Slattery or Barney 'Whiterats' Winters. See heritage New Zealand sheep breeds. Take 'billy tea' and scones around the swaggers campfire.

Tour Prices: (quoted in NZ$, subject to change) - Adults $15 - Children $5 - Family $40

*Tours run daily November to April. Cancellation fee of 20% applies.

Pre-bookings essential - contact Totara Estate. Available for groups at other times by arrangement.

Visitors are able to take a self-guided tour of the estate – no bookings are required for this. General admission charges: $9 Adults, Students $5, Children Free.

FUNCTIONS
Totara Estate is currently available for a wide range of outdoor functions and events such as car club meetings, temporary exhibitions of machinery, or as the start/finish line for races in the Canterbury/Otago region.

Short meetings and catered meals are possible by arrangment, either in the Museum, or outside in the picnic area on fine days.

The buildings and beautiful park-like grounds offer a picturesque rural setting for wedding or family photography, and for film shoots.

Totara Estate also welcomes school parties wishing to learn more about the history of New Zealand's meat industry, the role Totara played in meat exports, and heritage agricultural crafts such as buttermaking, hand milking, blade shearing and blacksmithing.