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You will see
- A family home furnished with fine art, furniture and artefacts from around the world
- A unique heritage property
- Eighteen rooms authentically presenting Edwardian life in all its glory and grandeur
- Transport from the cruise ship to this attraction is not included in the ticket cost, you will need to make your own arrangements
Olveston was designed by Mr David Theomin by acclaimed English architect, Sir Ernest George. Built between 1904 and 1906 it was the epitome of grand design.
The Jacobean style, grace and grandeur of Olveston is distinguished by a wealth of decorative detail. All thirty-five rooms at Olveston tell a story of a gracious age. The home is sited in the inner city as is built on an acre of land surrounded by garden.
A businessman, collector and philanthropist, David Theomin travelled extensively in the late 1800's and early 1900's and lavished his home with artifacts and priceless treasures during his travels; bronze statues, cloisonne and ivory from Japan and Chinese jade, ceramics and statues all reflect David Theomin's interest in decorative art from East Aisa. 240 fine artworks and paintings grace the walls of every room.
Olveston has only ever had one family in residence. Miss Dorothy Theomin, David Theomin's daughter inherited the home in 1933. Dorothy continued to live at Olveston until she died in 1966. With no heirs of her own, the property, complete with all the original contents, was gifted to the City of Dunedin.
Olveston is filled with elaborate furnishings, fire places and stained glass feature windows. The architect's attention to detail will delight the discerning. Built with central heating, an internal goods lift, call-bell system and internal telephones, the house is completely as it was when lived in as a family home.
Olveston allows visitors to glimpse back to the glorious Age of the Edwardians; a lifestyle long gone and one that can never be recreated. It opens an unparalleled time capsule. Visitors are able to reflect on the lifestyle as they move through the eighteen rooms open for viewing during the course of the one hour guided tour.
There are few historic houses that can offer such originality and integrity as Olveston and involve the visitor in feeling very much part of the experience as a guest in the family home.
Olveston is a unique heritage property, authentically presenting Edwardian life in all its glory and grandeur.Transport from the cruise ship to this attraction is not included in the ticket cost, you will need to make your own arrangements.
- Free admission to the Olveston House gardens
- Fully guided small group tour of house
Instructions
- To prevent damaging the wooden floors and original floorcoverings inside the house please do not wear stiletto heeled shoes
- We ask that visitors refrain from using cameras or mobile phones during the tour
- You can get to Olveston House with the Dunedin Hop On Hop Off Bus. See here for more details Dunedin Hop On Hop Off Bus
Restrictions
- All visitors wishing to view Olveston House must join a tour.
- For guests with mobility issues, full video coverage for the upstairs portion of the tour is available
Experience Schedule Options | ||
|---|---|---|
| start time | end time | |
| 9.30am tour | 09:30 | 10:30 |
| 10.45am tour | 10:45 | 11:45 |
| 12.00 noon tour | 12:00 | 13:00 |
| 1.30pm tour | 13:30 | 14:30 |
| 2.45pm tour | 14:45 | 15:45 |
| 4.00pm tour | 16:00 | 17:00 |
Experience Prices (current) | |
|---|---|
| Adult price | NZ $25.00 |
| Child price (5 to 17 yrs) | NZ $14.00 |
NOTE: Prices may vary depending on your Date of Travel.
Our Booking procedures quote the applicable prices before you commit to a Booking.
Can I visit the house without taking a tour?
No you can't. You must book a guided tour for the inside of the home. The gardens outside are free to visit at your convenience
Can I take photos inside the home?
Out or respect for other members of your tour group we ask that visitors refrain from using cameras or mobile phones during their visit
I am in a wheelchair. Can I visit the house?
Yes you can however only the ground floor is accessible. For guests with mobility issues, full video coverage for the upstairs portion of the tour is available
Do you provide tours in other languages?
Yes we do. These are on request and require a minimum of 48 hours notice. Please advise at the time of booking. Languages available are: Mandarin, Cantonese, German, French, Japanese and Dutch.
Can I touch items in the house?
Olveston is a house museum containing the original possessions of the Theomin Family. We ask visitors to take care inside the house and not to touch items on display
How can I get here from the cruiseship?
There are a couple of options. Firstly you could book a private tour with vehicle and guide and include Olveston in your itinerary for the day. Have a look at our Private Tours page for more information. Or you could hire a self drive rental car pickup and dropoff at the cruiseship. For more details on this option please see Rental Cars
How long does the tour take?
Each guided tour is one hour duration, but you are free to explore the gardens on your own before or after the tour, so best to allow 90 minutes for the visit.
