90 Bond Street, Dunedin

Conversion of a car mechanical workshop into No.8 Distillery

90 Bond Street, Dunedin (archaeological site I44/1309) was purchased by NZHP in 2008. The building is the original Briscoes Iron Yard, constructed between 1863 and 1871. A. Briscoe & Co. (now Briscoes) was a British ironmongery firm that established operations in Dunedin at the onset of the Otago Gold Rush. The building was erected along the original foreshore at the edge of the early reclamation area.

The property is located within Dunedin's historic Warehouse Precinct, adjoining No Name Alley. It is scheduled under the Dunedin District Plan (Building B790, Appendix A.1.1) and is also included within the Warehouse Industrial Commercial Heritage Precinct (Section 13, Appendix A.2). This precinct encompasses the original commercial centre established following the arrival of European settlers in 1848 and occupies reclaimed land between Princes Street and Otago Harbour.

The historic alleyway along the building's western side is home to Dunedin's earliest street art works by the late David "BeFree" Edwards, and forms part of the Dunedin Street Art Trail, which has become a significant cultural attraction within the city.

The redevelopment of the property involved seismic strengthening and the careful adaptive reuse of the historic structure, ensuring the retention of its heritage values while supporting its continued use and long-term preservation.

The building is now home to No.8 Distillery, where award-winning gin is distilled on site. The distillery offers guided tours, tastings, and hands-on workshops, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience both the craft of gin-making and the building's historic setting. You can find out more about the distillery and no8mixologist Bar events here.

Historic image: 1873 1212_01_001A.jpg | Hocken Digital Collections.