Fletcher House
Welcome to Fletcher House, an Edwardian Villa
This typical Edwardian villa was built in 1909 by Sir James Fletcher, founder of Fletcher Construction Company Ltd. In December 1990 Fletcher Challenge decided to restore the Fletcher House and open it to the public, making it the first villa in New Zealand to be opened for all to enjoy.
It has been fully restored to its former glory and furnished in the style of the period by the Otago Settlers Museum.
Timeline
| 1908 | Arrival of James Fletcher from Scotland |
| 1909 |
Builders James Fletcher and Albert Morris lodge a tender for a new house
to be built for local storekeeper Hubert Green and his wife at 727
Portobello Road, Broad Bay. A double bay windowed villa with return
verandah is built with views over Turnbull Bay. |
| 1931 | Mr and Mrs Green move to Auckland and sell their house to the three Miller sisters. |
| 1938 | Mr and Mrs Paterson purchase the property and reside here for 44 years. They make various alterations including partially enclosing the verandah to form a woodworking shop, front steps are removed to provide a ramp suitable for wheelchair access and the dining room ceiling has its ceiling lowered. |
| 1981 | Mr and Mrs Dickson purchase the house and extend the rear lean-to to provide a new kitchen, pantry, laundry and bathroom. |
| 1990 | Fletcher Challenge purchases the house. |
| 1991 | A conservation report is prepared and the restoration begins. |
| 1992 | Furnishing and garden design are completed by a team from the Otago Early Settlers' Museum and Dunedin Botanic Garden.Oct |
| 1992 | The fully restored Fletcher House, managed by the Otago Peninsula Trust, is opened to the public by Sir James Fletcher, son of the original builder. |
