Donald Stuart

This is 82 Bond Street

The current inhabitants certainly take the prize for the most creative use of a previous name, given that this building now contains artists’ studios and a small art gallery.


Donald Stuart is a name that should be more famous in Dunedin as the man that among other things founded the University of Otago; however this is not the same Donald Stuart but a name sake.

This Donald Stuart was a Tea merchant, (the other one was a Minister) and apart from that a keen rubgy man it seems. This is taken from the NZ Truth newspaper 7 June 1928.



Double click to enlarge

The 1905 Dave Gallahers team mentioned in the article is of course "The Originals" the first All Black team (and the tour that gave them that name). It is not surprising that he was a little ticked off about missing out on selection for that team.

Don's name lives on in Otago rugby circles as there is a Donal Stuart Memorial Sheild which is played for each time Otago and Southland play each other.

On the LM Wright & Company Web Site (http://www.lmwright.co.nz/company.htm ) they note that the founder Leonard Wright worked for Donald Stuart upon arriving in New Zealand at the tender age of 19 before establishing his own tea business two years later. That company LM Wright & Co is currently run by Alistair Wright the son of Leonard.

The companies’ office shows Donald Stuart Limited founded in 1914 still alive (if not that active as far as I can tell) and majority owned by Owen Wright (with Alistair having a very minor shareholding). So it appears that in the fullness of time the Wright family has come to own the company that gave Leonard his start in the business.