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Story: Whaling

Ōtākou whaling station

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Ōtākou whaling station

An important shore-whaling area was around the south and east coasts of the South Island. The brothers Joseph and Edward Weller established a productive station, Ōtākou, at Otago Harbour in 1831, but it closed after 10 years. This painting shows the station buildings at the harbour head.

Using this item

Toitū Otago Settlers Museum

by A. Colville

Permission of Toitū Otago Settlers Museum must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Whaling – Shore-based whaling, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/6254/otakou-whaling-station (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 2 March 2009.