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 between 1906 to 1966. Olveston is an authentic and original historic home depicting the life of a wealthy merchant family in the early part of the twentieth century. Olveston was constructed between 1904-1906. Built with every modern convenience, Olveston was fitted with central heating, a gas generator for electricity, a shower in each bathroom and heated towel rails, an internal telephone system and service lift. The house features 35 rooms including a vestibule, hall, drawing room, bedrooms, billiard room, card room, kitchen, scullery, butler’s pantry, library and dining room. A galleried atrium through the ground and upper floors forms the Great Hall, which served as a ballroom. The exterior walls of Olveston are constructed of brick and plaster with a Moeraki gravel finish and faced with Oamaru stone, finished with Marseilles roof tiles.