Photoprint for Sale: Mt. Cavendish Gondola And Heathcote Valley, Christchurch, New Zealand

This is an original photoprint from my personal collection

Size of image is 30cm x 46cm (12" x 18").

Price is $NZ 50.00 inc. urban p. and p. in NZ.

Please contact me at donovan@ihug.co.nz or 09 4159 701.

© DON DONOVAN. donovan@ihug.co.nz 
www. don-donovan.blogspot.co.nz
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New Zealand Odyssey: Signal Box, Heathcote Valley

'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.

Railway buildings have a charm unique - especially those belonging to New Zealand Rail. Busy, self-important, functional and sturdy. I guess that like most small boys who never get the chance, I should like to have pulled some of those levers and set off some warning bells and lights in my time. Too late now. 

This signal box was, is? at Heathcote in a valley that leads through rock portals to a tunnel to Lyttelton. The valley took a pounding in the Canterbury earthquakes but I'm sure the signal box is still there.

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz

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Canterbury Earthquake: Heathcote’s Valley Inn Destroyed.

This watercolour of mine accompanied my post (search ‘Valley Inn Heathcote’) when I blog-published my book ‘The Good Old Kiwi Pub’

In 1877 the Valley Inn, with its trapeziform rooms and not a right-angle anywhere, became a licensed hotel. 133 years later, on 4 September 2010, it was so ravaged by the Canterbury Earthquake that it had to be destroyed.

These photographs were sent to me by Paul Corliss, author of ‘In The Shadow of the Rock’, a history of the Heathcote Valley. The ‘rock’ is Castle Rock which stands above the valley (see left of picture below). It was split asunder by the earthquake, sending house-sized boulders tumbling. Miraculously, nobody was hurt.

© DON DONOVAN & PAUL CORLISS

donovan@ihug.co.nz