Historic Significance

Historical Significance or Value The Werner dairy has significant architectural, historical value. Its historical value lies in its age as the dairy is estimated to have been built in the 1870s, and its use as a dairy, for processing milk into cheese and butter on the small Werner farm, which is representative of the history of farming practices on small holdings in Otago.

Physical Significance

It is a small vernacular structure unusual in its octagonal shape that stands out in the Lowburn landscape. In 1976, Higham et al noted that this dairy was said to be one of only three such octagonal structures in New Zealand.

Detail Of Assessed Criteria

This unusual octagonal shaped building was constructed by the first European settler on this block of land, and so it is associated with the early European settlement of the Lowburn district, and integrally associated with the history of the area. Constructed from locally available schist and cob, this small vernacular structure is well known and held in esteem in the local community. The dairy was used daily during early methods of farming for processing milk products, and this kind of structure has been long obsolete. In this respect the dairy provides knowledge of New Zealand's history. One of only three such identified structures , it is also a rare building. The Werner dairy is one of a series of vernacular farm structures still standing that date from the first years of European land holdings in Central Otago. It stands in close proximity to the Partridge farm buildings, and is approximately the same age. These structures are associated with small holdings and are built in a similar style and from schist and limestone mortar. They are the extant remnants of a former historical landscape. The Kai Tahu ki Otago Natural Resource Management Plan does not record any sites in the area of the Werner dairy. A findspot, where an adze was located, is identified as iwi site number G41-C7 (NZAA site number G41/546), in the general Lowburn area.