The Octagon, Dunedin
The Octagon in Dunedin is the city’s centre. It is an eight‑sided, mainly pedestrian plaza with a circular central road and two main streets crossing it: George Street to the northeast and Princes Street to the southwest. Upper and Lower Stuart Streets also end at the Octagon. A larger octagonal street, Moray Place, surrounds the area.
The Octagon is a busy transport hub. Most bus stops are on the surrounding streets, and a new bus hub opened in 2018 near the corner of Moray Place and Great King Street. Taxis are common in the northeastern part of the square. It’s also a popular place to sit at cafes and restaurants, many with outdoor dining, and it hosts markets and street performances.
Statues and gardens are a key feature. A terrace above the Octagon is crowned by a statue of the Scottish poet Robert Burns, carved by John Steell in 1887. The terrace, called McMillan Terrace, was given to the city by philanthropist Alexander McMillan in 1967.
Around the Octagon you’ll find several important buildings. In the northwestern quadrant are the Dunedin Municipal Chambers (Town Hall), the Civic Centre, the Public Library, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. These are notable historic buildings. In the southwestern quadrant are the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Forsyth Barr House, the Regent Theatre, and the Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics’ Institute, all of which are also historic landmarks. The northeastern and southeastern areas host many cafes, bars and offices, helping make the Octagon a lively part of the city.
The Octagon has a long history. It began as Moray Place, laid out in 1846 by surveyor Charles Kettle, as an octagonal reserve. It became a protected public space in 1854. The Anglican church wanted to build there, but the plan caused a big local dispute, so St. Paul’s Cathedral was built at the northern edge instead. The area was originally split by Bell Hill, which was cut through to connect the north and south parts of the city. A monument to William Cargill appeared in 1864 (moved in 1872), and a statue of Burns was added in 1887.
A fire in 1879 at Cafe Chantant caused many deaths, a tragedy remembered in Dunedin’s history. In the 1960s a fountain funded by the Evening Star became a popular feature, but it was removed during a later renovation. The Octagon was heavily renovated in the late 1980s and early 1990s to restore an Edwardian feel, add a plaza, and encourage outdoor dining. Plaques were added for the Dunedin Writers’ Walk around the upper Octagon and an Olympic‑themed walk along the central carriageway. In March 2018, Barnes Dance crossings were introduced at two junctions, making it safer to cross.
The Octagon is also the place for Dunedin’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 16:06 (CET).