Fletcher House (Otago Peninsula) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fletcher House |
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Fletcher House in 2008
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| General information | |
| Type | Residential |
| Architectural style | Edwardian |
| Address | 727 Portobello Road |
| Town or city | Broad Bay, Dunedin |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 45°50′46″S 170°37′41″E / 45.84611°S 170.62806°E |
| Completed | 1909 |
| Design and construction | |
| Main contractor | Fletcher and Morris |
| Designated: | 19 April 1990 |
| Reference #: | 5230 |
Fletcher House is a special old home located in Broad Bay, a beautiful spot on the Otago Peninsula in New Zealand. It's famous because it was one of the very first houses built by Sir James Fletcher. He later started one of New Zealand's biggest construction companies, Fletcher Construction! This house, found at 727 Portobello Road, sits on a small piece of land that looks out over nearby Turnbulls Bay.
Today, the Otago Peninsula Trust takes care of Fletcher House, with help from the Fletcher Trust. It's the only Edwardian-style house in New Zealand that has been fully fixed up and furnished just like it was long ago. This means visitors can step back in time and see what life was like over 100 years ago!
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Discovering Fletcher House
This historic house was built in 1909. It was made for Hubert Green, who was the local postmaster, and his new wife, Agnes. Broad Bay was a popular holiday spot for people from Dunedin who had more money. Because of the good work on this house, James Fletcher's building skills quickly became well-known. This helped his company grow bigger and bigger.
Who Was James Fletcher?
Sir James Fletcher was a very important person in New Zealand's building history. He started a company that grew into one of the country's largest construction businesses. Building Fletcher House was one of his early projects. It showed how good he was at building homes that people loved.
What is Edwardian Style?
The Edwardian style of architecture was popular during the reign of King Edward VII (1901-1910) in Britain. Houses built in this style often look grand and solid. They usually have:
- Lots of windows, making rooms bright
- High ceilings
- Decorative details, but not as fancy as earlier Victorian homes
- Often made of brick or wood
Fletcher House is a great example of this style, showing how homes were designed and built in the early 1900s.
A Home Through Time
Fletcher House has seen many changes and different owners over the years. Here's a quick look at its journey:
- 1909: James Fletcher and his business partner, Albert Morris, built the house.
- 1910–1931: Hubert and Agnes Green, the first owners, lived here.
- 1931–1938: Three sisters named Miller owned the house.
- 1938–1981: A couple named Patterson lived in the house for over 40 years. They made some changes, like lowering the dining room ceiling and adding a ramp at the front for a wheelchair.
- 1981–1990: Mr and Mrs Dickson owned the property. They added more space at the back, including a new kitchen, bathroom, and laundry area.
- 1990–1992: Fletcher Challenge, a company connected to James Fletcher's original business, bought the house. They worked hard to fix it up and restore the garden to how it looked originally. Teams from Toitū Otago Settlers Museum and Dunedin Botanic Garden helped with this big project.
- October 1992: The house was officially opened to the public by Sir James Fletcher, the son of the original builder.
Visiting Fletcher House
Today, Fletcher House is open for everyone to visit. It's a fantastic way to learn about New Zealand's past and see how people lived in the Edwardian era. The house is listed as a Category II historic place by Heritage New Zealand, meaning it's an important part of the country's history.
There are other historic homes nearby that you can visit too, like the famous Larnach Castle and Glenfalloch.
