Rosemary Allen, formerly of Waikaka, is searching for a
dolls' house her father made her when she was eight.
When Rosemary Allen was young, her father made her an
elaborate dolls' house but, when the family moved to England in
1951, the beautiful toy was sold.
Miss Allen, now of Auckland, is searching for the dolls'
house, which was made by her father the Rev David Allen, who
was a minister at Waikaka from 1943 to 1951.
Mr Allen was a trained cabinet-maker and the dolls' house was
a two-storied replica of a Georgian house.
"It was very well made. It had electricity," Miss Allen said
last week, when she visited the Gore district on a mission to
find the house.
The house included dolls and furniture.
The family moved overseas when Miss Allen was eight and sold
all their household goods, including the dolls' house, in an
auction.
An anonymous buyer bought the dolls' house and gave it to the
Waikaka Presbyterian Church, family friend Joan Simpson, of
Gore, said.
"It was done [donated by the buyer] as a tribute to Rev
Allen's work in Waikaka," Mrs Simpson said.
The dolls' house was donated to Inglenook Children's Home in
Gore.
"From there on we don't really know any more," Mrs Simpson
said.
Miss Allen is keen to retrieve the house and would like to
hear from anyone who has any information about it.
To pass on information, please phone Mrs Simpson on 208-6848.
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