The Steenson collection was gifted to the Forrester Gallery by the late (Harry) H K Steenson in 1984. It consists of 618 architectural drawings from the practice of Forrester & Lemon, later Forrester & Steenson. Thomas Forrester and John Lemon established the practice in 1872 and Thomas’ son took over the practice in 1890, inviting (Ivan) W I C Steenson to join the practice in 1921. John retired in 1931 and Ivan continued the practice with his son Harry until 1993. The majority of the drawings relate to the building or alteration of domestic homes and retail shops in the Oamaru township