House style and class in Victorian and Edwardian Dunedin, New Zealand, 1870-1910

Moyle, Jeremy (2018) House style and class in Victorian and Edwardian Dunedin, New Zealand, 1870-1910. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

This thesis explores the relationship between class and domestic house style in Victorian and Edwardian Dunedin, New Zealand, 1870-1910. A detailed historical examination is made of the colonial and commercial contexts that the city’s houses were created in. Using historic images, a statistical analysis of house styles is also undertaken to determine any clear associations between different occupational classes, homeownership statuses, and stylistic features. The results are explored though the stories of four individuals whose houses were included in the analysis. Ultimately, this research suggests that house style could express wealth though scale, expensive materials, and a clear visual differentiation between personal homes and budget rental accommodation, but there was little evidence to suggest distinctive class-related tastes in architecture.

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