140 years ago New Zealand's first ever shipment of frozen sheep meat docked in London on board the Steam ship the SS Dunedin. It was remarkable journey for a number of reasons.
Of the 5000 carcasses frozen, only one didn't make it. And the journey was the beginning of what is now a multi billion dollar industry. It all began in Otago, and to celebrate the occassion a special dinner is being held in Oamaru. Karyn speaks to one of the organisers, Jo Hay.
The SS Dunedin loading at Port Chalmers in 1882. The 1320 ton, 73 metre Dunedin was built by Robert Duncan and Co at Port Glasgow in 1874. In 1881 she was refitted with a Bell Coleman refrigeration machine with which, in 1882 she took the first frozen load of meat from New Zealand to the United Kingdom. Photo: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
