Talk:1879 Octagon fire

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• ... that Robert Wilson, editor of the Otago Witness newspaper, and several of his family were killed in Dunedin's 1879 Octagon fire?

• Source: "The great fire at Dunedin (from the Auckland Evening Star),"Armidale Express, 26 September 1879. Archived at nla.gov.au. Retrieved 22 July 2026.

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Created by Grutness (talk). Number of QPQs required: 0. Nominator has fewer than 5 past nominations.

Grutness...wha? 12:44, 22 July 2026 (UTC).

• @Grutness: this one is new enough, long enough, well-sourced, not copyvio, and with a properly sourced hook. No QPQs and no images needed. However, the hook is unlikely to catch the attention of the average reader. Would you be able to propose one that's a bit broader? I see mention that Wilson had previously stated the building was a death trap in case of fire - something off of that? Jishara (talk) 16:48, 24 July 2026 (UTC)
  • Thanks - I'll see what I can come up with. Grutness...wha? 03:23, 25 July 2026 (UTC)
  • @Jishara: How about: "...that the 1879 Octagon fire remains Dunedin, New Zealand's deadliest fire?" Grutness...wha? 16:52, 27 July 2026 (UTC)
    • @Jishara: again since pings don't work on unsigned comments. ミラP@Miraclepine 14:33, 27 July 2026 (UTC)
      • Whoops - thanks! Grutness...wha? 16:52, 27 July 2026 (UTC)
        • hey @Grutness: not sure that works - maybe that at the time it was the biggest in New Zealand? Something about how the guy who warned it was a death trap died in it? Or maybe mentioning it being the third big tragedy to hit the same place in a year ? Jishara (talk) 17:07, 27 July 2026 (UTC)