Designed for Dunedin Businessman and Philanthropist Mr David Theomin by English architect, Sir Ernest George, (1839-1922), Olveston was built between 1904 and 1906. Jacobean in style, the grace and grandeur of Olveston is distinguished by a wealth of decorative detail, while maintaining the intimacy of a private family home.

Situated on an acre of manicured gardens, the house is located in the ‘town belt’. With 35 stately rooms containing the original contents of the Theomin Family, Olveston carries a Category 1 New Zealand Historic Places Listing. Throughout his life, David Theomin and his family travelled extensively across the world and lavished their home with priceless artefacts and fine art and objects.

Olveston and the collection was bequeathed to the City of Dunedin by Ms Dorothy Theomin, the solo surviving member of the family in 1966. The collection contains many treasures from around the world, including over 240 artworks, bronze statues, antique furniture from Europe, America and Asia, fine pieces of Japanese cloisonné and ivory, Chinese jade and ceramics, a vast collection of 18th and 19th century Japanese weaponry and a vast collection of fine artworks.

Visiting Olveston is by guided tour only.
Please vist the tour information page for more details, or click here to book now.