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Caetani Cultural Centre

The Caetani House was built in 1896, commissioned by Samuel Sommerville, a dance instructor who later became City Tax Collector and an alderman. The house was designed in the Late-Victorian Vernacular Revival style, which emphasized solidity and comfort over design. Several additions have increased the size of the house including a new wing which was added in 1903.

In 1913 the property was sold to H.G. Mueller, owner of the former Coldstream Hotel. Eight years later it was sold again, this time to the wealthy Italian immigrant Leone Caetani, Duke of Sermoneta and Prince of Teano. From that point on, the house on Pleasant Valley Road became known as the Caetani House.
The Caetani House now stands out as a unique heritage site because of its historic association with the Caetani family and, of course, the magnificent gardens and grounds that it stands in. With the recent addition of renovated outbuildings into artist studios on the grounds, Sveva Caetani's wish of creating a 'cultural centre' has been realized.