Built in 1923 by James Fletcher (later Sir James) for his family residence, this grand Dutch-style brick and roughcast residence stands as a reminder of Fletcher’s importance in New Zealand’s building industry and economy, and has architectural, aesthetic and historical significance.

Scottish-born James Fletcher arrived in New Zealand in 1908 with a bag of tools and a few pounds in his pocket and a determination to make good. He had been apprenticed as a carpenter before he came to Dunedin. After first working as a foreman for a building firm, he set up a house-building partnership with Bert Morris in 1909. They moved onto construction work, taking on large projects. Fletcher’s brothers joined him, the company known as Fletcher Brothers. By 1919, the company was known as Fletcher Construction, and was established in Dunedin, Auckland and Wellington. The company expanded through ‘vertical integration’ establishing a joinery factory, buying timber mills, and a significant shareholding in the brickmaking industry. He also established a concrete production business. The company was publicly listed in 1940 as Fletcher Holdings. James Fletcher retired in 1967 and died in Auckland in August 1974.

The house was designed by William H. Dunning. Dunning was a Tasmanian-born architect whose other work in Dunedin included the National Bank in Princes Street, Ross Home in North East Valley, the RSA Buildings in Moray Place, and Barton’s Buildings. Plans show a generous residence with a grand entrance hall and lobby, drawing room, dining room and breakfast room (as well as service rooms) on the first floor and five bedrooms on the first floor. The exterior is brick and rough cast with flared gables, a semi-circular entrance hall, multi-pane windows and decorative brickwork.

In later years the house has been modified to allow for boutique accommodation and in 2016, the house is known as Fletcher Lodge.