Allanton (Māori: Ōwhiro) is a small town in Otago, New Zealand, located some 20 kilometres southwest of Dunedin on State Highway 1.

In 1875, with the arrival of the railway south from Dunedin; and satisfying criteria for a "town", the community was renamed Greytown - after former Governor Sir George Grey.

Among those who took up land in the growing community were immigrant Poles,[5] from among the "Brogdenites" who had constructed the railway.

In 1895 a conflict of identity was recognised between the local community and another Greytown, well established in the Wairarapa.

By a unanimous decision it was given the name "Allanton" - as a gesture of respect for the late James Allan of nearby "Hopehill", a former Otago Provincial Councillor, County Councillor and East Taieri Church Elder.