Caversham is one of the older suburbs of the South Island New Zealand city of Dunedin. It is sited at the western edge of the city's central plain at the mouth of the steep Caversham Valley, which rises to the saddle of Lookout Point. Major road and rail routes south lie nearby; the South Island Main Trunk railway runs through the suburb, and a bypass skirts its main retail area, connecting Dunedin's one-way street system with the Dunedin Southern Motorway. The suburb was founded by wealthy pioneer William Henry Valpy, and its name reflects his Berkshire heritage. It grew rapidly during the Central Otago Gold Rush of the 1860s due to its location on routes south to the Otago hinterland. By the end of the 19th century, Caversham was heavily industrialised, and its population included many skilled or semi-skilled tradespeople. This, combined with the community's strong Protestant roots, led to the area's generally left-leaning political stance. It is currently administered as part of the city's South Dunedin ward. At a national level, it is part of the Dunedin South electorate. Caversham is now predominantly residential, with some industrial premises in the east (notably the Hillside Railway Workshops) and a retail district centred on South Road and Hillside Road. Caversham has strong sporting connections, and is the location of Carisbrook, one of the city's main sports venues. (more...)

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