Farewell to a century of service: Dunedin’s Kensington Army Hall closes doors, modern replacement opened
After more than a century of continuous service to Dunedin and the wider region, the New Zealand Defence Force’s Kensington Army Hall closed its doors for the final time on Saturday, making way for a new home for southern military units.
10 November, 2025
Soldiers from 2nd/4th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, along with reserve medics, logisticians, cadet forces and veterans, marched out of the hall one last time as a poignant farewell to a building that has seen generations of service members pass through its doors.
For the past two-and-a-half years, Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Seeds, Commanding Officer 2nd/4th Battalion, has been considering the needs of the local units, working closely with Defence Estate and Infrastructure on the design and fit-out of the new Dunedin Defence Facility, and is now looking to the future.
“This is a much-needed and significant investment in our regional infrastructure. It is modern — a new space where we can meet, train, and assist the community when called upon. Our Regular Force, Reserves, and cadets who will serve in it can be rightly proud of their new home.
“I have had the honour of discussing with, and representing all the users of the new facility — HMNZS Toroa, Otago & Southland Company, the detachments from 3rd Combat Service Support and Health Support Battalions, Defence Recruiting, and the Sea, Army, and Air Cadet units.
Kensington Army Hall closed for the final time this weekend following a century of service
Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Seeds leads the Charter and Remembrance Parade to celebrate the opening of the new Dunedin Defence Facility
Head of Defence Estate and Infrastructure Mark Brunton opening the new Dunedin Defence Facility
The Dunedin Defence Facility provides a new home for NZDF’s southern units
Mark Brunton, Head of Defence Estate and Infrastructure, said the new facility presented an opportunity to bring together the local units that were previously separated and have them all in the same location.
“It will reduce operational costs and make processes more efficient with the shared use of services and spaces.”
The new facility was officially opened on Sunday in a ceremony following a Charter and Remembrance Parade at Queen’s Gardens.
Kensington Army Hall was built in 1915 and its closure comes as both a farewell and celebration – honouring the generations who trained and served there, while opening a new chapter for Defence in Dunedin.
The hall was deemed earthquake prone and not fit for use in 2022.