Olveston (house)
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Olveston is the name of a prominent house in the inner suburbs of Dunedin, New Zealand. It was built between 1904 and 1906 for a wealthy merchant David Theomin, who had originally emigrated to New Zealand from the village of Olveston, South Gloucestershire, England. Theomin married Marie Michaelis of Melbourne (1855-1926) and was thus related to the extended Hallenstein, Fels, de Beer and Brasch families of Dunedin, noted patrons of the arts and learning. Charles Brasch, remembered in New Zealand as a poet and editor, said of his kinsman, 'he was a jolly bouncy little man who liked a bit of swank perhaps but was kindly and quite without side'. (Brasch, 1980 p.110.)
Built in the Jacobean style to plans prepared by London architect Sir Ernest George, the house was fitted with all the latest conveniences available in the early 20th century e.g. central heating, internal telephone system, service lift, food mixer, electric toaster, etc.
The Theomins were collectors of art, ceramics and furniture. They acquired significant Japanese material and works by W.M. Hodgkins, Frances Hodgkins, Alfred Henry O'Keeffe and Frank Brangwyn among others.
The house and its contents were bequeathed to the city of Dunedin in 1966 by David Theomin's daughter Dorothy Theomin and was opened to the public the following year. Its collections and record of sumptuous Edwardian life in New Zealand lend it a special interest.
[edit] References
Blackman, M. (in Thomson, J.) (1998) Theomin family in Southern People a Dictionary of Otago Southland Biography Dunedin, NZ: Longacre Press, Dunedin City Council. ISBN 1-877135-11-9. Brasch, C. (1980) Indirections A Memoir 1909-1947 Wellington, NZ: Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-558050-8.
