Olveston Historic Home

14/10/2026

Welcome Spring with a touch of colour and elegance!

As the days grow brighter and nature bursts into bloom, it’s the perfect time to refresh your wardrobe with something beautiful and timeless.

At Olveston, our exquisite collection of silk scarves brings art to life, combining colour, creativity and style. Each design takes inspiration from artworks within the historic home, making every scarf a little piece of art to wear and treasure.

On the Shores of the Lake by Ceridwen Thornton features beautiful turquoise blues, accented with touches of gold and grey-blue for a striking, sophisticated look.

Roses by Alfred O’Keeffe brings a lovely richness of colour, with deep reds, warm oranges and earthy browns that add depth and character to any outfit.

Belinda’s Beach by Sir William Russell Flint offers a softer, sun-kissed palette of delicate peach, golden hues and gentle greys, perfect for the fresh feel of spring.

Whether you’re looking to brighten up your everyday style or find a special accessory for a spring occasion, these stunning silk scarves offer a beautiful way to wear a little piece of art.

Which design catches your eye? We’d love to know!

Come and explore the collection in the relaxed, peaceful surroundings of the Olveston Gift Shop. We look forward to welcoming you!

42 Royal Terrace, Dunedin
Open daily, 9.00am – 5.00pm
03 477 3320

Olveston Historic Home is an authentic historic experience in the heart of Dunedin.

11/10/2026

Step Back in Time

Edwardian High Tea at Olveston

Indulge in an unforgettable afternoon of elegance, charm and tradition.

Join us in the grandeur of Olveston's opulent Great Hall where every detail evokes a bygone era of refinement. Sip from fine bone china, savour exquisite treats, and soak in the historic atmosphere of one of Dunedin’s most treasured heritage homes.

Book via our website on www.olveston.co.nz

10/10/2026

Have you noticed our deciduous azalea?

This magnificent azalea is flowering now, with a gently sweet fragrance. Each flower has delicate pastel colouring, with creamy white petals, soft crimson markings, and a flash of warm yellow along one petal. Tiny stamens rise from the centre, while the unopened buds are a deeper peachy shade. The flowers may last only about a week, making this a fleeting seasonal display. Come and see them while they’re here.

The Olveston garden is free to explore at your own pace. You’re also welcome to join one of our monthly Garden Tours, held on the fourth Saturday of each month, or take a daily one-hour guided tour to discover more about the Theomin family, their home, and life in the early 1900s.

Olveston Historic Home is an authentic historic experience in the heart of Dunedin.

You can check out more about Olveston by visiting our website: https://olveston.co.nz



Article prepared by Jo Woolley, Operations Supervisor at Olveston Historic Home.

08/10/2026

Looking for a unique gift or a special treat for yourself?

Come and discover the Olveston Gift Shop, where you’ll find a delightful selection of unique gifts.

Browse goodies from local suppliers, including beautiful soaps, books, stationery, ceramics, jewellery, gorgeous scarves … and plenty more!

You’ll also find a range of Olveston-inspired keepsakes, including scarves, lens cloths, magnets, cards and prints, perfect for taking a little piece of Olveston home with you.

And why stop at the shop? Make a visit of it! Take a stroll through Olveston’s magnificent garden, or step inside and join a guided tour of this remarkable historic house.

Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift, a memorable keepsake or simply something lovely for yourself, there’s something for everyone at the Olveston Gift Shop.

Come for the shopping, stay for the history, gardens and charm. We’d love to see you!

Open daily from 9.00am to 5.00pm
42 Royal Terrace, Dunedin
Ph: 03 477 332

Olveston Historic Home offers an authentic historic experience in the heart of Dunedin.

06/10/2026

Looking for something different to do these school holidays?

Step back in time and discover the fascinating story of Olveston Historic Home!

Whether you’re visiting Dunedin for the holidays or a local looking for a family activity, come along for a guided tour and explore this beautiful historic home just as it was over 100 years ago.

A great school holiday experience for the whole family — with plenty of stories, history and things to discover.

Book your guided tour and make Olveston part of your school holiday adventure!

Olveston Historic Home is an authentic historic experience in the heart of Dunedin.

Olveston is open to the public for 1-hour guided tours of the house or garden. You can check out more about Olveston by visiting our website: https://www.olveston.co.nz/

www.olveston.co.nz

30/09/2026

Brighter days ahead! 💡 The lights are back on at Olveston Historic Home – almost.
Work upgrading the electric system at Olveston is nearly complete - and it is ready to open to the public again this Thursday, 1 October.

Olveston Historic Home has been closed for the past few months while we were busy upgrading the main switchboard and submain cables, subcircuit cables, and undertaking general repair and maintenance of some of its older and outdated components.

The aim was to give Olveston some much needed improvements but not make it noticeable to the public, and to ensure everything is safe and operational for the current age without compromising the unique heritage value of the building. Some work is still ongoing, but it can still open while this is completed. ⚡️

24/07/2026

See you at The wedding Edit four properties one stand.

13/07/2026

Behind the scenes at Olveston...

The first stage of preparing for our electrical upgrade is now complete! Rooms have been carefully cleared, with collection items safely packed away and the remaining furniture and artworks covered and protected, ready for the electricians to get started.

As you can see from the photo, it's certainly a different look for one of our favourite rooms, the library, but it's all part of ensuring Olveston is well cared for for many years to come.

We're already looking forward to unpacking everything, giving the house a thorough spring clean that would get the approval of the Theomins’ head housekeeper back in the day, and welcoming visitors back when we reopen in October.

We will keep you updated as we go.

Olveston Historic Home is an authentic historic experience in the heart of Dunedin.

27/06/2026

One of the features of the Drawing Room is the bay window on the east wall. Before the trees matured, guests would have been afforded views to the harbour and Pacific Ocean and less picturesque, the views of the factories which help to provide the wealth of Dunedin.

The windows show four stained glass decals of famous English writers. We do not know if the Theomins specified these writers or if they just accepted what was given to them. The same thought applies to the painters featured on the south facing window. Both sets of windows were designed and made by Bryans and Webb, London.

The four decals of English writers also have an example of their work as well.

From the left, we start with Geoffrey Chaucer. Chaucer is hard to see as he is covered by a curtain. His verse is in Middle English of course.

It reads as follows:

“Suffice thee thy good, though it be small
For hoard hath hate, and
clymbyng fickleness.”

Next comes Edmund Spencer. Spencer has been misspelt and should read as Edmund Spenser.

His contribution is:

“Sleepe after toyle, porte after stormie seas,
Ease after warre, death after life
Doth greatly please.”

Number three is our great friend William Shakespeare.

Shakespeare’s advice is:

“This above all; to thine own self be true,
And it must follow as the night the day,
Thou can’st not then be false to any man.”

The final author is Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who also has his name shown incorrectly. It is shown as just Lord Tennyson.

Tennyson’s advice is as follows:

“Our wills are ours, we know not how,
Our wills are ours, to make them thine.”

The four famous artists on the south windows are:

John van Eyck
Albrecht Dürer
Raphael Sanzio
Sir J Reynolds

The windows of the Drawing Room are only a small sample of the beautiful windows of Olveston Historic Home.

Come on one of our six daily 1-hour guided tours and learn about the Theomin family, their magnificent collection and how they lived in the early 1900s.

Article prepared by Kevin Flaherty, guide at Olveston Historic Home.

Olveston Historic Home is an authentic historic experience in the heart of Dunedin.

25/06/2026