The History

The History of Olivers 

 OLIVERS - CENTRAL OTAGO'S PROMINENT HERITAGE COMPLEX 

Olivers was established in 1869 by merchant Benjamin Naylor, and is recognised as one of Otago’s most significant heritage buildings, reinforced by its Heritage New Zealand category one classification. 

Naylor saw the opportunity in the 1860s to open a store providing provisions to the many miners who flocked to the nearby goldfield. Called The Victoria Store, it was housed in what is now the Olivers Restaurant building. 

Over the years and through a series of subsequent owners, the hotel and restaurant complex expanded to form a group of eight stone buildings and structures. All built in the vernacular style and spread over half a hectare of land on the corner of Sunderland and Naylor Streets, in the centre of Clyde. 

With the support of Heritage New Zealand, the current owners Andrea and David Ritchie have faithfully restored the traditional schist buildings. The homestead, built by Naylor for his family of seven children, along with the stables, coach and smoke houses offer boutique guest accommodation 20 minutes from Cromwell. 

Benjamin Naylor made his mark in Clyde for his business acumen and became a significant local figure and property owner. Following his death the property was sold in 1909 by his wife Mary to another merchant, James Horn of Bannockburn. Naylor’s Victoria Store continued as a general store and drapery until the late 1960s when it was converted to a vet clinic by veterinary surgeon Ron Jackson. 

The property passed through the hands of several owners but it was Fleur Sullivan who launched it into national prominence in 1977 when she opened a highly successful restaurant in Benjamin Naylor’s store, naming it Olivers. A prominent business and tourism identity, Fleur had earlier restored the old Dunstan Hotel in Clyde’s main street, and re-opened it as Dunstan House. She also created Olivers Lodge accommodation in the existing outbuildings and homestead and is credited with revitalising boutique tourism in the area. 

The vision has been to once again attain the national and international profile enjoyed by Olivers during the Sullivan years. Its integral part in the development of Clyde, combined with its architectural significance and notable tourism role, ensures the complex is well placed to make a substantial contribution during the next phase of its captivating story.

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The History of The Lord Clyde 

For over 150 years accommodation has been offered on the site where The Lord Clyde stands. From the canvas and wood ‘Hotel United States’ (1862) to the more substantial ‘Port Philip Hotel’ (1868) and finally the impressive two-storied stone building of today (1903), the tradition of offering a warm welcome and fine hospitality continues. 

The restoration, preservation and management of this heritage-listed building has been undertaken by Andrea and David Ritchie (of Olivers in Clyde) in conjunction with Andrea’s sister Victoria Hansen. 

A Note on The Lord Clyde Name 

Clyde (originally Upper Dunstan) was renamed in 1865 by Surveyor J.T.Thomson, in honour of Colin Campbell, Lord Clyde (1792 - 1863). 

Sir Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde, pursued a military career seeing service in the Peninsular Wars, the China War, the Sikh War of 1848 and the Crimean War. He was commander-in-chief in India in 1857-60 at the time of the Indian Mutiny and recaptured Lucknow. In 1862 he was created field marshal and died, unmarried, the following year.

As Sir Colin Campbell, he served as Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria from 1842 to 1854. Upon dining with Queen Victoria at Windsor, she found him ‘a charming, frank, merry old soldier, very agreeable & attractive ……. he has all the good manners of an older generation, which are not seen now alas!’