New Zealand Odyssey: Topz Footwear Repairs, Trafalgar Street, Nelson

'New Zealand Odyssey', published in 1989 by Heinemann, was authored by me, Don Donovan (who did the text and illustrations) and Euan Sarginson, who did the photography and design. In this series of blog posts, I will publish some of my drawings.

More corrugated iron! This lean-to was in the main shopping street of Nelson in 1988 and it, with the adjacent green building, seemed to be defying any attempt to bring the city into the 20th century (as it was). I wonder whether it still exists in the 21st century?

As for the Westpac Bank, I'm not sure whether it was also behind old iron like the repair shop but it had already struggled into a new dawn by changing its name from The Bank of New South Wales in 1982.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
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Bank of New South Wales, St. Bathans, Central Otago

This is the well maintained (for historical reasons) Bank of New South Wales in St. Bathans, the old gold town in Central Otago. It was built in 1864. I wonder how much gold was checked in there from the wonderfully rich deposits mined just across the road?

My first bank in New Zealand was the Bank of NSW, I became a customer in 1962. The bank changed its name to Westpac Bank some years later (I think but am not sure that it was a neologism created out of Western Pacific Bank).

I expect all of the customers of the BNSW in St.Bathans were known personally and by name to the manager. I have never met my bank manager in 48 years, none of the faces I see in the bank recognize me, the staff changes with reckless speed. Despite assurances in their advertisements banks no longer offer true, personal service preferring customers to indulge in the faceless practice of going ‘on line’.

Not everything changes for the better.

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz
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