When I visited Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct, one of the attractions that really stood out was Steampunk HQ. I managed to check out the place during my visit and while I’m not really a big fan of the steampunk genre, I did enjoy the sights and sounds there. Would I recommend coming here though? Read on further if you’re interested to know about my answer!
Steampunk HQ Oamaru: Immerse Yourself Into the Steampunk Genre
Anyway, getting to Steampunk Oamaru should be relatively easy as it’s one of the first attractions you’ll see once you enter the Oamaru Victorian Precinct (this is also where Miss Purple Studio is located). Moreover, you’ll also see the above installation which makes it even harder to not notice it. I personally would advise visiting here once you’re done with your Victorian Precinct walk. That said, you could also check this out first if that’s what you want.
Here’s an infographic detailing the history of the Steampunk HQ building. Much like a lot of the buildings in this section of Oamaru, it was also built during the Victorian era (specifically in 1882). Initially it functioned as the New Zealand Elevator Company’s grain store as during the time it was built, Oamaru had a burgeoning grain trade.
The building eventually was rebuilt after a fire in 1920 and now it serves as a steampunk museum. This plaque is inscribed with the activities and attractions that you can expect to see here. Additionally, it shows the price for admissions as well as business hours.
The moment you step in, you’ll be greeted with this sight. It shows a huge stand with the building’s name and an old diving helmet on top of what looks like Victorian clothing. I honestly didn’t know what to think when I saw this but I will say that the scene at least is effective in catching your attention.
So you’re probably wondering, what’s the connection between the steampunk genre and this small town in New Zealand’s South Island? Well, remember that this small town also has a historical Victorian Precinct/Heritage District. Since steampunk is a reimagining of the Victorian era it kind of makes sense that there’s an attraction in this Victorian Precinct celebrating the genre.
Now I’m not a big fan of the steampunk genre but I am familiar with it. Here’s some steel piping that’s been turned into a steampunk prop that’s called an Aethercompressor. In reality though, it’s actually a flywheel compressor that was repurposed as a prop here in Steampunk HQ.
A big reason why I’m not that into steampunk is because it’s just too eclectic and eccentric (like in the images above) for me. Now I’m not saying this is bad, just that I’m so used to more traditional designs. I will say though that these traits are probably what makes steampunk so unique and visually appealing for those who enjoy it.
Here’s an example of a design that really is too “out there” for me. It shows a bull headed anthropomorphic being reading what seems to be a book with hard diving gear and gold bars surrounding him. I have no idea what this all means but I will say that it does get you thinking.
Beside the bull-headed figure is the Metagalactic Pipe Organ. It’s an interactive set piece here that I’m not quite sure how to describe. Basically you play a couple of notes on them and the sound then changes into something else entirely.
Another notable imagery associated with steampunk are gears. Just behind the bullheaded figure is a wall full of them. If I’m not mistaken, these were probably pulled out from industrial equipment and maybe even trains here in Oamaru.
Here’s how the Metagalactic Pipe Organ looks up close. It’s honestly really impressive looking and I liked the neon green lighting that kind of gives it a radioactive glow.
Another installation that features the radioactive green lighting is the Aethercompressor. Here’s a look at the device from a different angle that showcases the lighting.
This a sign detailing the lore for the Guardian of Astraea. At first I wasn’t sure if it was the installation shown in this image or the humanoid figure (not shown but can be seen) off to the side. Based on its lore though, the Guardian is apparently quite harmless so no need to worry when you do encounter it (whatever it is).
Here you can see the humanoid figure I was talking about earlier. Initially I thought it looked creepy and much more “guardian-like” than the installation in the foreground. In actuality, it’s called the Lone Emperor and it has a rather lonely yet horrifying backstory.
Now you’re probably wondering why I said the Lone Emperor from earlier looked creepy. Well, here’s why. Just beside it were these “abominations” (for lack of a better term) that could have probably given a younger me nightmares.
If you’re someone who enjoyed the Bioshock games then you’ll probably notice this diving helmet laying around with a mish-mash of other tools and gadgets. I remember enjoying the first Bioshock and thinking how cool the enemy “Big Daddies” (essentially mutants who wore similar diving helmets) looked.
Now you might think that this sign is also a steampunk concept but this was actually for a real tool used to fix internal combustion engines. Specifically, this tool was used to enlarge and true (remove imperfections) worn and/or scored internal combustion engine cylinders.
Aside from science fiction, another genre associated with steampunk is horror. Unfortunately though, I don’t think steampunk horror is as popular as vanilla steampunk. That being said, there are exhibits here that do play around with horror.
This laboratory features some horror elements that I don’t think really stand out but are still cool nonetheless. The skull in particular looks rather scary though I did hear other people say it looked funny. Maybe there’s something wrong with my eyes?!
This is another exhibit that looked rather terrifying. Instead of hair it had these dark corrugated PVC hoses attached to its head. Another feature that makes this terrifying is the dentist’s chair. I don’t know about you but I was deathly afraid of dentists growing up and a lot of that had to do with the dread I associated while waiting on the chair for the dentist to pull out my tooth.
I don’t know why but this really reminded me of that Fallout TV show. When I saw the silhouette of the robot-like thing above I immediately thought of The Ghoul. If you read the lore on this display though, it’s actually made from the ancient bones of plains gorillas and its name is Bosca.
This was such a scary looking display. Initially I thought it was just an ordinary large pipe but when I looked at this hole this horrifying skull face then gave me a jump scare.
Not as scary but still impressive is this Steampunk Piranha. To be honest, it looks more like an angler fish without the modified dorsal fin.
Here’s another of those humanoid creatures with corrugated PVC hoses for hair. This one looks to be a male and is much more grotesque than the one you saw earlier. A lot of this probably has to do with how uneven its hands and feet look. Also, he probably has the most deliberately unfortunate description in the whole building.
So the humanoid’s name is apparently Jerry and I have no idea what the term ‘Shag’ means in this context. Maybe it’s supposed to describe his shaggy hair?
Steampunk vehicles are probably some of the most innovative designs in the whole of Sci-Fi and there are plenty on exhibit here at Oamaru. There’s this colorful model train and hanging from the ceiling you’ll find a penny-farthing that’s been heavily customized.
Of the vehicles inside the building, the one that I was most impressed by was the HMS Hunter-Cerberus. For some reason, I thought its design was really nice. It was simple, functional, yet also had this cool factor with the pumpjack on its deck.
Aside from the vehicles, you’ll also find plenty of steampunk animals in this area of the building. Representing the class Aves are the Cheeky Moa and Rooster both sculpted by Chris Meder. Insects are also represented with a Weta while a display featuring Archie Orangatang serves as mammals’ representation.
You’ll notice that a lot of the displays here aren’t just for show but also serve to tell a story. The Maze Gateway you probably saw earlier is a good example of this. Another good example is the Gateway H51 exhibit.
Remember how I said that the HMS Hunter-Cerberus was my favorite vehicle displayed inside the building? Well, there are actually plenty more vehicles out in the yard. Here are a couple of signs pointing to that section of Steampunk HQ.
Before deciding to go into the yard, I wanted to see a couple more exhibits inside the building. The first of these would be The Portal. It’s quite possibly one of the most colorful rooms in the building thanks to the hundreds of hanging lights.
Entry here is limited to 6 people (one per door) and it’s quite honestly one of the exhibits that you’d really want to bring your phone out for. With that said, you might want to sit this one out if you do have conditions such as (or like) photosensitive epilepsy. While I don’t think the lights are that strong, there are plenty of them and this might have an adverse effect on your condition.
Here’s one of the guys responsible for a lot of the displays here at Steampunk HQ. He was a prolific sculptor who worked out of Dunedin who sadly lost his battle to cancer in 2010. Reading this actually made me feel a little sad because a lot of his work that I saw here were really good.
After some time, I finally managed to arrive at the yard. At this point, I’m currently inside one of the installations. It had this helm which likely saw use in a ship before it was transported here.
And what I meant by here is a large, wooden, industrial tank. I’m not quite sure what type of fluid was stored in this one but I will say that it looks rather aged and weathered. Behind it is a newer tank that’s made from steel that also happens to be much taller.
Further away, you’ll find what looks like a blimp hanging from a post and a host of other installations below it. The area is actually the entirety of the yard and it pretty much has a lot of the cool vehicles that simply wouldn’t fit inside the building.
This chopper probably isn’t going to bring you very far but boy does it look really cool. It’s probably the design but this really reminded me of a documentary I saw that featured African guys making and riding makeshift wooden bikes.
If you want to get a better view of the exhibits here at the Yard, look for this dilapidated train car which has a view deck welded on top of its roof. The stairs here are a bit narrow so it’s likely that only one or two people can go up at a time. Once you do get up there though, you’ll find yourself appreciating this area even more.
Notice anything? I was so fixated at the yard that I forgot there are also sculptures on the walls of the building itself. If you look at the upper left part of the image then you’ll know what I’m talking about.
From afar these flies actually looked so real. The only giveaway that they weren’t was their size. If I’d have been further then I probably would be confused as to whether these were the real deal or not.
Here’s another look at the train car that I got to the top of earlier. Its wheels looked really cool and it actually reminded me of the chariot wheels on films like Ben-Hur and Gladiator. Up top you’ll also notice what seems to be a cool looking engine exhaust (sadly I don’t think it’s functional).
This is what the front of the train car looks like. It’s been modified to actually look like a tractor for a semi-truck. Completing the look of this installation is a skull up top that got a chuckle out of me.
Another cool vehicle that’s close to the modified train car is this jeep. Now I actually like the older jeep designs (especially the ones that came out in the 1940s) so this was a pleasant surprise for me to see this here.
Remember how I was talking about a blimp earlier? Well here it is up close. I’m not entirely sure if this is a real blimp or was constructed just to look like one. That said, I do think it looks cool though the vehicles surrounding/near it might actually be better.
I absolutely loved how the sculptor of this installation managed to combine an engine with a crawler tractor. If this actually worked then I’d have ridden it in a heartbeat. Like with most of the installations on display here though, this isn’t functional at all which kind of sucks but is also understandable.
This vehicle is another one that really caught my eye. It’s just below the blimp and it looks absolutely bonkers. It’s like a stripped down Ford Model C but then you add a humungous spring on it encircling a bad-ass looking skull. I swear, it looks even more impressive in person than in a picture.
Behind the blimp were another set of installations that I actually wasn’t able to see initially. They weren’t that impressive for me but they were quite large. As for whether they were interesting to look at, I think they might have been hidden in this area for a reason.
This is another angle of the vehicle I was raving about a couple of images ago. From here you can clearly see the skull face with some cool looking dread locks. Much like the Ford Model C, this vehicle also has a hand crank up front. Now if only this actually worked. I’d probably end up going on a joyride on it.
So I was wondering what the tall object with what looked like disks was and I found out that it was called a high voltage insulator. It’s typically made from ceramic and if I’m not mistaken, is used on power transmission lines. This (and the others you probably saw earlier) look to be quite old and were probably in use decades ago.
I’m not going to lie, this was one of the displays here that I really didn’t like. It just looked too dilapidated and rusted all over. That said, this probably was the point of Ruston Bucyrus.
Here’s another look at the steampunk flies you saw earlier. Even from this close they kind of look very real just because of how their silhouettes look a lot like that of flies.
This is the inside of the train car that I climbed up earlier. It honestly looks quite comfy inside and I could totally see myself feeling at home here (if not for how hot it was). The inside area was also surprisingly very tidy.
If you’re feeling a little tired from all the walking, you can actually sit on these chairs here. Again though, the inside can get a little toasty especially during the midday to noon hours. As for the chairs, they’re quite alright. I sat on one and it wasn’t the best experience but I also don’t think these were the worst chairs that you could sit on.
Inside the train car there’s a White Room that you can enter for a “Dimensionally Challenging Sensory Experience”. Of course, the reality is that it’s just another exhibit featuring the display shown in the above image. It’s actually quite hard to describe what this display is so I kind of get why it was termed dimensionally challenging.
Another cool exhibit that you’ll find in the Yard is The Gadgetorium. It’s a relatively new exhibit here having debuted in Steampunk HQ last 2018. By virtue of them being relatively new, the steampunk themed gadgets and tools on display here actually look more polished and don’t seem to have the rusted appearance (at least some of them) of the other displays in the Yard.
I swear if someone mass produced these shoes and sold them they’d end up being billionaires. Kidding aside, these are a nice pair of shoes/boots that I’d actually want to try out at least once. Unfortunately, these likely aren’t functional and they do look like they’d be a pain to put on.
Now I’m not quite sure what these outlets and meters are supposed to be. It seemed like they’re just here for decorative purposes and that they likely don’t serve any purpose or function at all. Still, I think these look cool, especially the various meters.
Here’s a close up of the steampunk shoes/boots I was raving about earlier. Thinking about it now, I think this is more futuristic than it is steampunk. Regardless if it’s steampunk or not though, it does look really good.
Another steampunk themed lab that is also a lot more futuristic than the previous ones I saw. The red light and the human anatomy posters give off a really sinister vibe but it’s still tame compared to the other stuff I saw inside the Steampunk HQ building. Much like other displays here, this one is rather well polished with nary an indication of rust on some of the items.
The steampunk lab also has a work area where presumably its resident works. This work area features an old typewriter and a microscope of all things. There are also a ton of books here that seem like they’re also well preserved albeit they do look quite old.
After exploring the Gadgetorium, I then proceeded back to the Yard. My tour of the place was drawing near and at this point I was honestly quite impressed at what I was seeing. Here’s a look at the blimp from the opposite side and it actually gives you a different perspective of the installation.
You’ll notice the high voltage insulators holding up the blimp have some humanoid looking sculptures on them. These looked like chimps though I’d like to think they’re actually imps guarding the blimp.
On top of the Steampunk HQ building itself is another figure with a fishing rod that had a comically large hook. From here it looks like the figure is trying to fish the blimp that’s under it.
Standing guard on one of the gate posts is an actual imp (or maybe it’s a devil?) sculpture. I’m not going to lie, it does look a little scary. The face in particular looks a lot like the classical depictions of devils/demons.
So that ends my visit to Steampunk HQ in Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct. This was an okay tour though I think you’d enjoy this more if you’re into the steampunk genre. That said, I think that non-fans and people not familiar with the genre will still enjoy the exhibits here. Additionally, the tour here is self-guided so you can enjoy the exhibits and displays at your own pace. It’s definitely not a must-visit by itself but if you do plan to go to Oamaru then I’d really recommend allotting some time for Steampunk HQ (of course before or after you’ve done the walking tour of Oamaru Victorian Precinct).
Have you visited Steampunk HQ yet? If yes then we’d appreciate you sharing your experiences there with us in the comment section!
