New Zealand Odyssey: 508 Queen Street, Auckland

'New Zealand Odyssey', published in 1989 by Heinemann, was authored by 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.

 In 1987 this strange little building stood on Queen Street. In 2011 it has gone and nobody from Da Vinci's Italian restaurant seems to remember it. It intrigued me because it was a perfect example of New Zealand street architecture where what is above the rain canopy bears no resemblance to what is below. In this case the restaurant façade was ugly and impermanent but the pretty Dutch style brick upper storey was most unusual and obviously built with care. The significance of the treble clef device at its apex is mysterious to say the least.

508 Queen Street is now a horrible glass fronted apartment block. Da Vinci's still exists as an Italian eatery, it is at 5 City Road, I must eat there sometime for old time's sake.

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz