Janet Frame House

56 Eden Street, Oamaru, was once the home of Janet Frame, the famous New Zealand author.

The Janet Frame House has been restored and is opened in the summer months for visitors to experience. It is a pretty, uncomplicated building, filled with charm and crocheted bedspreads and rag rugs, a sewing machine and a typewriter, wallpapers and linoleum floors. Uncluttered, it feels comfortable, a place where time and space allows thoughts to flow freely. although it must have been different when the author’s family (five children, mum, dad and various pets) lived there. Janet was involved at the beginning of the restoration project, although she was bemused by the idea apparently!

Janet Frame became one of New Zealand’s most well-known writers after The Lagoon, a collection of her short stories, was published. She had been hospitalised and was going to have brain surgery to cure her of a misdiagnosis of schizophrenia, but the publication of her writing made doctors realise their mistake and the fact that she did not belong in hospital. From then her career as an author began to grow to international fame. You can read about Janet Frame here.

Read more:

https://janetframe.org.nz/index.php/biography

Experience more:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15VjR7FDjk

https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/search-results/?q=Janet%20Frame&size=n_20_n


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2 responses to “Janet Frame House”

  1. Susanne O'Dwyer Avatar
    Susanne O’Dwyer

    Interesting to read about the restoration of Janet Frame’s family home which I hope to visit one day. I have just finished reading her story and am amazed by her perserverence under really difficult situations and admire her courage to stand up for what she believed in. A life well lived!

    I was also interested in reading about your travels in the far South of the South Island. I did a similar trip 2 years ago and as you say, really enjoyed spending time exploring the wonderful natural features of the area – especially Stewart Island which was like being in another world.

    Wishing you all the very best for 2025 and hope all your ventures work out the way you are planning for. Cheers from Sue O’Dwyer.

    1. Andy Ross Avatar

      Thanks for getting in touch, Sue. As you say, Janet Frame’s was an interesting life and we really enjoyed learning more about her on our Southern trip.
      I will keep everyone updated on the progress of the studio and our lives over here. Glad you enjoyed the blog.

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