Daily Photo – The Dunedin Gaswork

Out of complete curiosity, I went for a wander around the Dunedin Gasworks – one of only three known preserved gasworks museums in the world, which makes it a significant heritage site and isn’t without its own unique rustic charm!

Now, to be frank for a moment, I really don’t have the faintest idea beyond a very basic level how you’d heat coal and turn it into gas to light a town. So, what I was looking at was very much a mystery. In the first room I entered, a large and well-lit engine room filled with natural light that bounced off the whitewashed brick walls and exposed rafters, a massive, dark green flywheel engine (I know this because I read the label) and associated machinery sat in the centre of the room dominated the entire space. Which, if I’m being completely honest, was a little boring. Actually, it was very boring!  It turns out, I’m just not that interested in the manufacturing, treatment, pumping, and storage of gas. So, to amuse myself on my wanderings, I decided to reinvent the various machines so they’d be more practical and useful in the modern age. As I walked around, I gave them all different uses and names. Suddenly, the place took on a whole new level of interest. For example, instead of looking at a stationary steam engine that converted the thermal energy of steam into mechanical energy, I was now looking at a weather-making machine where water vapour is collected, cooled, and condensed – controlled by a person who turns the various levers and handles to produce all sorts of various weather systems – even bolts of lightning! Next, I looked at the giant music box, a fizzy drink machine (which could easily be converted to produce whiskey or beer), a robot-building device, and a pizza oven. 

However, my personal favourite was the dragon’s floating relaxation chamber – complete with a chimney to channel the dragon’s fire-breath, which simultaneously kept the water lovely and hot. This machine I called “Droofus,” because of all the dragons I know, Droofus is by far and away my favourite. 

The one disappointment was that I wasn’t able to find the power mechanism-transponder valve that opens the gates to the secret riches of the Goblin Mines, so I might well have to return!