Margery Blackman's biography "Dorothy Theomin of Olveston - Mountaineer, photographer, traveller & benefactor"

Reviewed by Dorothy -- 21/09/2007

Ask residents of Dunedin or those who have visited the city if they have heard of Olveston, the majestic home bequeathed to the city of Dunedin, and the majority will reply enthusiastically that the name and image of Olveston, and probably the place itself, are very familiar to them. Not so many, however, will respond with such certainty when asked about the benefactor who donated this magnificent property to the city. Margery Blackman's biography Dorothy Theomin of Olveston - Mountaineer, photographer, traveller & benefactor will help to fill this gap in so many people's knowledge. It will be available for sale to visitors at Olveston and in the University Bookshop (Otago).

Dorothy Theomin of Olveston Click here to view a larger version

Olveston Photo credit: Gary Blackman Click here to view a larger version

In this interesting and carefully researched account of Dorothy Theomin's life, sources such as letters, interviews, diaries, and other relevant material are acknowledged within the text.

The biography begins with information about the roots of the families of Dorothy's father David Theomin and her mother Marie Michaelis. It goes on to describe the development of David Theomin's business in Dunedin.

Dorothy Michaelis Theomin was born on 24 December 1888, the second child in the family. Her brother Edward was born on 29 January 1885.

Travel was to play a large part in the lives of both the children, and it began when they accompanied their parents on a business trip to England and Europe in 1892. On their return Dorothy attended a private school for girls in Dunedin. Her next trip in 1901 led to her enrolment at Roedean, an independent residential girls'school on the Sussex Coast. The book includes an interesting account of the aims and programme of the school which were to provide an all-round education in academic subjects and an active programme of physical education and outdoor exercise. Dorothy's activities in later life demonstrated the spirit of independence and self-reliance encouraged at the school.

At this time David Theomin was making plans for the house to be built on the site at Olveston and by July 1907 the family had moved into their new home.

Dorothy's parents were setting the example of service to the community with both supporting welfare organisations, her father involved in the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society and her mother supporting Dr Truby King in his aim to establish a society for the health of women and children.

With the assistance of a large domestic staff many social occasions were held at the new home, and a ball to celebrate Dorothy's 'coming-out' was described in the Otago Witness. The inclusion in the book of an extract from this account gives an illuminating picture of social life of the well-to-do in Edwardian Dunedin. During World War 1 social events were largely held for patriotic fund raising.

Music was an important part of the social life. Marie Theomin often sang at social functions and Dorothy was trained as a soloist and continued such singing through much of her life.

Following her training at Roedean she also kept up her sporting interest and played hockey and then golf. The family began taking holidays in the mountains and this was the beginning of Dorothy's love of mountains and climbing.

Edward Theomin worked in his father's business, enlisted in the army in 1917 and was sent to England where in 1919 he married Ethel Mocatta. They returned to Dunedin but Edward suffered health problems and died in 1928. He and Ethel had no children so Dorothy was the only descendant of her parents. Marie died in 1926 and David in 1933 and Dorothy inherited Olveston and the family estate.

Climbing became for Dorothy a consuming interest and the list in the back of the book showing the climbs she completed between 1914 and 1932 is evidence of her enthusiasm and determination. The chapter Mountain Journeys describing the climbs is generously illustrated with clear and impressive photos drawn from a variety of sources, some taken by Dorothy and held in the Hocken Collections.

Dorothy's later life was filled with the interests begun in her early life - travel, visits to the mountains, music, the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society, philanthropic work, and photography. The patterns and influences in Dorothy's life are clearly presented in this biography.

Margery Blackman is no stranger to researching and writing about the lives and work of people significant in the history of Otago. She wrote a number of short biographical accounts of Otago women included in Southern People, a biographical dictionary of Otago and Southland published in 1998. She also wrote a 10-page article on Eleanor Joachim, a Dunedin Arts and Crafts style bookbinder, which was published in A Book in the Hand an edited volume of essays on the history of the book in NZ (Auckland University Press, 2000).

Her involvement with Olveston began with twenty years as a member of the Theomin Gallery Management Committee when she took an active interest in the conservation of the textiles and fabrics at Olveston.

This book was published by the Friends of Olveston. All proceeds from the sale of this publication will be used by that organisation to assist the Theomin Gallery Management Committee to fund conservation of the contents of Olveston.

The book is priced at NZ$25.00. To secure your copy send your order to:
The Friends of Olveston
P.O. Box 5871
DUNEDIN
New Zealand

Make your cheque payable to Friends of Olveston Inc.
Add NZ$2.00 p&p within New Zealand.