Capital idea for Oamaru | Oamaru News | Local News in Oamaru

Oamaru was officially christened the steampunk capital of New Zealand yesterday by a Melbourne couple who organise themed events in the genre.

Cassandra Edwards and Jeremy Byrne flew to the South Island especially to catch the end of the Steampunk: Tomorrow As It Used To Be exhibition at the Forrester Gallery.

Yesterday was the final day of the display and by the afternoon 11,000 people had viewed it.

The Melbourne visitors are part of the Australian group "The Antipodean League of Temporal Voyagers" who are planning a New Year's Eve event called "Euchronia 2010".

While in Oamaru they met local artists in the hope of some "cross-pollination" of transtasman steampunk designs and ideas.

Yesterday Mr Byrne said giant steampunk pieces, such as the steam train in the middle of Thames St, were world class.

"And we endorse Oamaru as the steampunk capital of New Zealand," he said. "I can't imagine there's another place like it."

Ms Edwards said they found out about Oamaru steampunk a few years ago and had followed the website and news stories ever since. "We thought it was a place to keep an eye on, but we could not have imagined what a beautiful town it is," she said.

"The Victorian heritage creates the perfect base and breeding ground for steampunk."

While they had recently moved to Wellington they still ran events in Melbourne and said they would take ideas from Oamaru to their New Year's Eve show.

"It will be a dance party with circus acts, burlesque, an art exhibition and belly dancing," she said.

Before the exhibition closed yesterday, League Of Victorian Imagineers co-ordinator Rick Barry congratulated those involved in the successful exhibition.

"A heartfelt thank you. It was the most amazing experience and a high point in my life," he said.