Build the Janet Frame visitor centre

Help transform the humble garage of Janet Frame’s childhood home into an iconic visitor centre.

Preserve the legacy and celebrate the genius and courage of one of our greatest writers. A giant of world literature, Janet Frame grew up in a modest cottage at 56 Eden St, Oamaru.

The house is now a Janet Frame museum. The Janet Frame Eden Street Trust plans to turn the property’s garage into a globally-recognisable visitor centre, to celebrate Frame’s work and tell her incredible story.

Inspired by her writing and her life story, visitors already come from around the world to Frame’s home. This contemporary visitor centre will provide immersive storytelling, and enable the house itself to stand as a time capsule of her Depression-era childhood.

The initial design concept by Oamaru architects New Heritage features the instantly-recognisable shape of an upside-down open book as its roof.

The first phase of the fundraising project is a crowdfunding campaign to raise $100,000. The Trust is also seeking grants and partnerships to meet the total project cost.

The Trust hopes to begin work on the visitor centre in 2024, the centenary of Frame’s birth.

This Givealittle campaign is being run by the Janet Frame Eden Street Trust. Should the Trust fall short of the overall funding goal to build the visitor centre, those contributing to this campaign will be supporting the trust.