Dorothy Theomin was born in Dunedin in 1888, the second child of
David Theomin and Marie Theomin (née Michaelis). She had an older brother, Edward. She was educated at Braemar House in Dunedin and, from 1902 to 1905, at
Roedean School in
Sussex. In 1907, she took charge of managing the family's residence,
Olveston, as her mother was busy with philanthropic work. ==References==