Olveston House and Otago Museum

Today dawned rainy and the gentle rain really didn't stop. Fairly wintery, too, with the temperature sitting around 12 degrees all day. I took myself off to visit Olveston,  an amazing Edwardian home that was gifted to the city of Dunedin in 1933.  The family who lived there, the Theomins, consisted of the mum and dad, and a son and a daughter.  Neither of children had kids, so when the last remaining member of the family passed away,  (the daughter Dorothy), it was discovered that the house and all of the contents had been bequeathed to the city.
At first, the city didn't want it, but the council was lobbied by some of the daughter's friends and the son's wife and were convinced to retain it.
It was absolutely stunning.  It's all been kept just as it would have been back then, complete with formal dining room, reception rooms and servants quarters.  It was pretty spectacular.  No photography inside, so only have this shot of one corner of the outside.
 Afternoon was spent at the Otago Museum exploring everything, but particularly searching for the so-called Lawrence Lions.
When we were in Lawrence, we read the story about a Circus (Carlos Circus!) that visited Lawrence in 1978.  During this visit, the door to the lion cage was inadvertently left open and the Lions,  Sultan and Sonia, escaped.
Poor Sultan tried to get back into his cage, but couldn't,  and was shot by police.  This decision made when after it was discovered that the circus tranquilizer gun had been left in a previous town.
Sonia went for a longer walkabout and soon met a similar tragic fate.  So, so sad.
They are now on display in the Otago Museum and are known as the Lawrence  Lions.  Such a sad story. After the museum we visited and old student pub - The Captain Cook, for a Speights and some chips. Heading out of Dunners tomorrow,  and must say, it's been a real joy to visit.