‘Gift' of Olveston celebrated on Matariki
Lynda Short, left, with daughter Catherine Short, and granddaughter Grace Thompson, take a tour of Olveston yesterday as part of the Matariki celebrations. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON
Nearly 200 people stepped back in time on Matariki yesterday.
The people, mostly locals, were taking the opportunity to visit the historic Olveston house in Dunedin for the cost of an ice cream.
Olveston home supervisor Alec McWhirter said offering the community the chance to visit the place for a nominal fee was in the spirit of Matariki.
"It honours the wonderful gift the Theomins family gave us; and looks back as well as forward to the future.
"We had at least 100 people through the home by noon; I would say there were at least 180 visitors to the home [yesterday].
"It's one of our busiest days of the year and certainly when we see the most locals. It's just really wonderful there are so many people who tell us that they've always wanted to come ... so we're really engaging with the community."
Opened as a historic house museum in 1967, Olveston is a time capsule as little has changed inside the house since it was occupied as a family home from 1906 to 1966.
"I think what really retains its appeal is the fact that, you know, everything here is original," Mr McWhirter said.
"We live in this city with all these wonderful old buildings and all this wonderful architecture, but the insides have changed so much, whereas Olveston retains that kind of essence of the time.
"People love learning those stories but also really connecting with the story of the Theomin family and learning how they contributed to their city and their time."
matthew.littlewood@odt.co.nz
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