The former borough of Green Island, 8 km south-west of central Dunedin, was historically distinct from the city. It lies in the Kaikorai Valley, and for many years was dominated economically by the Burnside meat-freezing works, which opened in 1883. From the late 1970s the freezing works mostly handled venison. It closed completely in 2008, because of lack of throughput.
Meaning of place name
The suburb is probably named after tiny Green Island, off the coast.
