A brief history

Construction of the tunnel began on 21 September 1871 at the Kaikorai Valley end, and after the cutting was complete, on the Caversham end on 13 March 1872.  Breakthrough of the two parts was achieved on 21 September 1872, with almost perfect alignment. The tunnel construction was finished late February 1873 with a celebratory dinner held in the final week of February to commemorate the completion of the contract for the construction of the Caversham Tunnel.7

The line was opened by the Hon. Julius Vogel (Premier) on Saturday, 13 December 1873, with an excursion from Dunedin to the Green Island terminus, next to the coal pits of Messrs Sampson and Brown.  A luncheon was then held in a nearby field, with a speech and toasts by and for the Premier.¹

The first passenger service was run on 1 July 1874 from Dunedin to the Green Island terminus, with a 1-way ticket costing fourpence, and a return journey costing sixpence.²  The link to Balclutha via the Chain Hills tunnel was opened 1 September 1875, and the full line to Invercargill operational on 22 January 1879.³ The tunnel was in service until 1910 when the replacement dual-line tunnel took over all rail traffic.

In 1923, the tunnel became an unfortunate drainage conduit for the Kaikorai Stream that had burst its banks, which resulted in flooding in the South Dunedin area.4
It was fitted out as an air raid shelter during World War Two.4

Over the years that followed, the tunnel was used for pedestrian and cycle access by young and old.  It was considered a dry and easy to negotiate tunnel with only the ditch at the mid point providing any form of obstacle to negotiate.

In 1961 ownership of the tunnel was officially transferred to the 'Mayor, Councillors, and citizens of the City of Dunedin' as part of the 'Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Act 1961 No 128' Act of Parliament transferring various tracts of land from the railways to local bodies.  After that a major sewage line was installed, with pumping houses at either end.

From this point on, it appears that the conditions within the tunnel steadily worsened, with mud and water problems at the tunnel mouths making access a little more difficult.

Lobbying for a Cycle/Walkway

Over the years many people have suggested that the tunnel be officially recognised and used as an accessway, but little has come from this. The first recorded suggestion was in 1907 when a Mr D Reid petitioned the government "if it would, when the new railway tunnel at Caversham was completed, consider the advisability of using the 'old tunnel' for vehicular and passenger traffic between Dunedin and the country districts".5

In 1978 the idea was raised and seemed to be taken with merit by the council of the day: "The Dunedin City Council planning department has approved the idea of having the old disused railway tunnel between Kaikorai Valley and Caversham as a cycling track.Department members inspected the tunnel with the Dunedin Cyclists Coalition which wants to use the tunnel. The structure of the tunnel is sound but there are potholes and puddles all through the tunnel so the floor would have to be sealed. A coalition spokesman said finance for that would be a problem, as would the provision of lighting and footpaths at both ends. They will approach the council for a feasibility study." 6

In 2005, an approach was made to the Dunedin City Council suggesting that the tunnel be incorporated into the cycling and walking strategy the Council had developed.  At that point the Water and Waste Services department declined the idea stating that they did not want publicity or public access given the sewer and other utility lines now running through it.

In 2006 a formal submission was made to the Annual Plan for maintenance on the tunnel to correct the drainage and mud problems.  This was declined due to theoretical cost estimates but as a result of the application, the tunnel ends were gated off and the cutting to the Caversham end of the tunnel was cleared, drained and resurfaced.

In 2008 further submissions were made to the Annual Plan.  As a result, access through the tunnel is under review (as at July 2008).

Sources

¹ Otago Daily Times, 15 December 1873

² Otago Daily Times, 2 July 1874

³ The railways of New Zealand : a journey through history   Churchman, Geoffrey B.  Transpress New Zealand, 2001.

4 Paul Hayward 'Intriguing Dunedin Street Walks'

5 Otago Witness, 24 July 1907

6 Evening Star, 2 May 1978

7 Otago Witness, 1 March 1873

If you have any history, anecdotes, or corrections to add to this, please use the comments section below. Thanks!

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Comments

  • I well remember being taken up to the old Caversham Tunnel, way back in the 1960s, by an University Student, named Bruce. Seemed to be forboding and eerie then.
    However, I have walked through the old tunnel in 1992. With 3 other bods. Bit of an experience, I can tell you.
    So what of the puddles ? Why be put off by something as miniscule as this is ?

    I challenge the DCC to properly investigate the viability of having this asset, being brought to the fore. And to support us Cyclists. As well as walkers.

    As an old Cavershamite, whom currently lives in Christchurch, I will support the Tunnel Advocates.

    Posted by Alasdair Wright, 02/05/2010 6:57am (4 months ago)

  • What a wonderful asset to our city just going to waste.We have so much history and such a responsibility to preserve features for the future!!
    One project at a time but a co-ordinated approach led by a lively and enthusiastic council would encourage community involvement.
    Projects like the CAVY TUNNEL are perfect examples of community spirited groups producing results without huge expenditure.
    I would love to be involved as an ex Caversham boy

    Posted by Warren Lees, 01/04/2010 2:25pm (5 months ago)

  • I used to bike thru the Cavy tunnel with my mates in the 50's usually when we had cycled to Port or out the Peninsular. We could ride our bikes all the way home via Kaikorai Valley Rd, (which was not sealed) to Wakari without getting off!
    This tunnel should be re-opened for use by the public, cyclists and foot traffic. A simple lighting system could be provided as a safety measure to cater for both walkers and bikers.

    Posted by Don Weston, 20/02/2010 9:33pm (6 months ago)

  • I used to cycle through the tunnel in the early 1950s when I worked as a lab assistant at Burnside Chemical Works. The surface was muddy and there were lots of potholes, but if you had a good headlight there was no problem. There were many others who used the tunnel for this purpose, and many of them would either sing or whistle, taking advantage of the cathedral-like accoustics.

    I believe it should be made a cycle-way. It doesn't need to be sealed. Fine gravel would be OK, just like the Central Otago Rail Trail.

    Posted by Bernard Redshaw, 29/08/2009 6:08pm (1 year ago)

  • I used to cycle through the "Cavvie" tunnel in the 1950's. It was quite scary and often a dare to go through on your own without a light. You cannot see the end of the tunnel until about half way through as it has a hump in it about mid way. It wasn't that muddy but occasionally you'd stumble [or cycle] into a reasonably deep puddle. It definitely should be reopened.

    Posted by Warren Redshaw, 29/08/2009 5:57pm (1 year ago)

  • One thing this city is seriously lacking is more areas for people to walk & cycle without being stuck on busy main roads or having to contend with joggers! Come on DCC get behind it and do something the people actually want to see happen and get behind us walkers & cyclists as we pay rates too!

    Posted by Janelle Houliston, 28/11/2008 12:06am (2 years ago)

  • I went through this tunnel as a schoolboy in 1982, rather muddy etc, but since, I've always thought, as a cyclist, that it is an asset sitting idle. If this and the chain hills was opened, it'd open up the southern suburbs with the city for pedal power.

    Posted by Paul Jeffery, 27/11/2008 6:24am (2 years ago)

  • What an amazing asset, if only there was a better attitude to its existence. There you have, dare I say it, a sustainable solution to pedestrian and cycle movements between the valley and the city. Except one division of the council 'don't want the public in there'. I think they need a reality check. The council is there to serve the citizens, not themselves. Have local authorities and central government forgotten this wee point maybe? Such a great asset should have better use.

    Posted by Pete McGrath, 26/11/2008 1:28am (2 years ago)

  • Great idea, guys!

    You definitely have one more supporter here.

    Let me know if there's anything I can do to help?

    Off to find it now!

    Dave

    Dave Butler-Peck

    Posted by Dave Butler-Peck, 13/09/2008 1:48pm (2 years ago)

  • I have cycled right through from the Caversham end, very muddy and sooty, Great fun. I also wrote a letter to the editor a few years ago to open up the tunnel if they where really a "Cycle friendly" City. We all know that the DCC is "Cycle Unfriendly"

    Posted by Graeme Flottmann, 28/08/2008 2:04am (2 years ago)

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