Dishing up a Victorian tearooms experience to (from left)
Waitaki Mayoress Heather Familton, Waitaki Mayor Alex
Familton and project manager Jim Hannan is proprietor Annie
Baxter, watched by butler James McKenzie (right) yesterday.
Photo by David Bruce.
All the gentility of Victorian times came back to Oamaru
yesterday when Annie's Victorian Tearooms and Store served its
first customers.
Described as "living theatre" by owner Annie Baxter, "good
leaf tea and home-made cakes" are served up by staff members
dressed in Victorian costume, overseen by a typically stern
butler, James MacKenzie.
Ms Baxter has come from Christchurch, where she catered
Victorian afternoon teas at the former home of painter
Margaret Stoddart at Diamond Harbour.
About six years ago, she had the idea of creating a Victorian
tearooms in the historic area of Oamaru, and transformed the
ground floor of the historic AMP building on the corner of
Itchen and Tees St, with a spectacular view north along lower
Thames St.
Her concept came to fruition yesterday when she opened the
doors for the first time.
The tearooms is based on the genteel morning and afternoon
teas of Victorian times, but also tells the story of Hood and
Shennan's drapery shop, which occupied the premises from 1871
to 1885.
"It's a re-enactment of what a Victorian tea shop would have
been," Ms Baxter said.
Originally built for the drapery shop, the building, with
extensions and alterations, was the home of AMP Insurance
until 1958.
The North Otago Club has been on the first floor since 1915.
The club bought the building in 1975.
david.bruce@odt.co.nz
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