New Zealand Odyssey: The Old Longford Store, Murchison

'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.

The Old Longford Store, five kilometres north of Murchison, looked like this in 1988. It long ago closed down. Now worse for wear, rusty roof sagging, it's just a memory. I actually remember when it was a functioning shop in the 1960s!

The finger post points up the Mangles Valley, to a trout stream I much wanted to fish when I arrived in New Zealand from England in 1960. I was fortunate to meet a man whose farm straddled the river and we've been friends ever since. The original of this drawing hangs in his house. I can't think of a better place for it to be.

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz

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New Zealand Odyssey: Bush Hut, St.Arnaud

'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.

A typical bush hut such as you would find anywhere in the back blocks of New Zealand. It's constructed of vertical boards and battens with a wooden floor, a corrugated iron roof (what else?) and a triumph of rusty steel sheeting for a chimney. In 1988, this example, at St. Arnaud, south of Nelson, was close to a main road but I doubt if there was anything grander than a pony track when it was built. 

With that size chimney it would have had such a fireplace that on a cold night, when the logs were roaring, people inside would have had trouble avoiding roasting themselves! I wonder how many sausages and gallons of beer have been consumed here over its lifetime? And I wonder whether it's still there?

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz

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New Zealand Odyssey: Tyre Soles, Gisborne

'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.

 Some might say that this retread tyres depot was a disgrace and, no doubt, since I painted it in 1987, it has been demolished. But it wasn't an eyesore to me, it was another opportunity to paint rust and disintegration! According to my notes it stood in Crawford Road, above Gisborne Wharf.

The brand 'Tyre Soles' was quite well known in those days but appears to have died; it certainly does not show up in an Internet search associated with New Zealand.

© DONDONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz