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Published on 27 July 2026
A historic whaling trypot that sat within the Ōamaru Harbour has settled at last in Moeraki and a wee bit more of its past has come to light.
According to a newspaper report published 31 November, 1962, the blubber pot was presented to the North Otago Pioneer Gallery on 30 November the same year.
The article states: “As well as can be ascertained, the old pot was in the possession of a whaler after the station closed. His real name is not known today, but he was commonly called John the Baptist. It could have been Brogden, because as long as the pot was in the Henderson family it was known as ‘Old Brogden’.”
The whaling station closed in 1847, but the pot was used to pay off a debt to the Henderson family in 1875.
The trypot’s nickname of Old Brogden seemed to stick and it was transported down to a farm in Herbert where it sat for many years being used as an animal trough and to wash clothing.
It was then gifted to Keith Nuttall who donated it to the Pioneer Gallery and eventually ended up in Oamaru Harbour.
On 23 July 2026 it was transported down to Moeraki where Old Brogden is now in pride of place next to the Centennial Monument that commemorates those who founded the whaling station.