New Zealand Odyssey: Brookshaw Woolshed, Pigeon Bay, Banks Peninsula

'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.

I particularly remember that day in 1987 when I painted the woolshed. It was warm and dry and the heavy scent of lanolin sat on the still air like an exotic perfume. As the day warmed the timbers of the old building creaked a little as they moved in a continuum of movement that had gone on for many decades leaving the clapboards uneven, distorted and a delight for the artist.

Pigeon Bay was named for the abundant flocks of native birds - kereru - found there by European sailors in the mid-nineteenth century. The sailors killed them for food remorselessly; these days, thank heaven, the birds are protected.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
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Country Churches of NZ 112. St. Barnabas, Warrington, Otago

I wrote and illustrated Country Churches of New Zealand. It was published in 2002 by New Holland, Publishers and is still on sale in bookshops. The publishers have kindly agreed to me re-publishing some of the book’s images and descriptions in this blog.

ST. BARNABAS, WARRINGTON

On the Otago coast north of Dunedin, St Barnabas, built in 1872, is another archetypal country church.

It has a pleasant, leafy churchyard where tui and fat kereru perch safely in old trees above mossy tombstones that range downhill into long grasses and deep shadows.

The church is beside the main railway but hidden from it and so a mournful hoot from a passing train is startling.

Inside, it has beautiful stained glass, especially the west window which is crafted by C.E. Tute of London. The window is dated 1870 - it pre-dates the church by two years.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
.