Louis Boldini

For many years, little was known of Boldini's life, with New Zealand printed references (such as Southern People: A dictionary of Otago-Southland biography) lamenting "It is remarkable that so little is known about Boldini [...] It would be good to know more about this man who left a distinctively continental stamp of the predominantly British architecture of old Dunedin.

A legacy from a wealthy uncle in 1846 allowed the Boldini children the opportunity to study for careers in the arts and sciences.

[5] In 1888, with New Zealand suffering from an economic depression which stifled building growth, Boldini migrated to Australia, where he was to spend the remainder of his life.

He had been invited to design a summerhouse in Victoria for former Wellington businessman Charles William Chapman.

Here, he was in charge of redesigns for the town's hospital, as well as building the town's Scots' Church, Phoenix commercial buildings, and Maldon Hotel, and was also involved in the local social life, being made life governor of the Maldon Athenaeum Society.