Have you spied the blue plaques?

By Roselyn Fauth

If you have walked around Timaru recently, you might have noticed a few striking blue circles appearing on the front of some of our most historic buildings. These are Blue Heritage Plaques, and they are part of a nationwide initiative to celebrate Aotearoa’s built heritage. Each plaque tells a short story about a person, place, or event that shaped our local history. The first rounds have been carefully considered, researched, well made, and placed on buildings where history happened. I love how they help to raise the profile of these stories beyond our region, linking Timaru and South Canterbury into a wider national blue plaque trail of heritage recognition.

I joined the Civic Trust South Canterbury in 2024, and I am now volunteering on the Blue Plaque sub-committee. This work fits closely with my goal of helping people connect with the stories of people and place from the past. I believe that when we understand where we come from, we can better know where we are going and make better choices.

What I have really come to appreciate is the huge amount of work the volunteers have given to this project. Every plaque takes time and I am genuinely grateful for the care they put into every detail and organisation.

You'll probably feel the same way I do, that the Blue Plaques can alo help raise awareness of the need to protect our historic places. When we see a plaque on a building, we are reminded that our built heritage has meaning, that it is part of our shared past. This visibility strengthens the case for conservation and supports ongoing efforts to protect important heritage sites throughout our district.

It started in Timaru with the Landing Service Building, which received the first plaque in 2020. Since then, more have followed across the city and wider South Canterbury, from churches and civic buildings to the stories of those who shaped our port, our architecture, and our communities. Each plaque is a small but powerful reminder that history is all around us. It is in the streets we walk, the buildings we pass, and the lives we continue to honour. Special thank you to Nigel Gilkinson for taking the lead and bringing the project to fruition.

If you know a story, a person, or a place that deserves to be recognised, you can help. Nominations are now open for the next round of Blue Plaques. You can also support the project through sponsorship or by simply sharing these stories with others. To learn more or make a nomination, visit www.blueplaques.nz or contact the Civic Trust at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Timaru

• Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Catholic). 7 Craigie Avenue, Timaru
• Chalmers Church (former). 12 Elizabeth Street, Timaru
• Customhouse. 2 Strathallan Street, Timaru
• Landing Service Building.  2 George Street, Timaru
• St Mary's Church (Anglican). 22A Church Street, Timaru
• Timaru Boys' High School Memorial Library. 211 North Street, Timaru

Wider South Canterbury. 

• Eleanor Tripp Memorial Library, Woodbury Domain Road, Woodbury
• Pleasant Point Railway Station. Main Road, Pleasant Point
• St Mary's Church. Esk Valley Road, Esk Valley
• St David's Church, Main Road, Cave
• The Vicarage, Wilson Street, Geraldine
• St Patrick's Basilica, Timaru Road, Waimate
• Temuka Courthouse Museum, King Street, Temuka
• St Augustine's Church,  Queen Street, Waimate