New Zealand Odyssey: Palmerston Town Hall, Otago

'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.

This must be one of the ugliest public buildings in New Zealand but I had to include it in the book because it's outrageously pretentious for a very small town. The town, Palmerston, is a little north of Dunedin in the South Island. 

There's another Palmerston - Palmerston North - in the north island that's about a hundred times bigger and boasts quite a good university. Hardly anybody in this country knows about the one in the south so when somebody claims to come from Palmerston most people think it's the one in the North Island. Did you get all that?

Just along the road from the town hall there's a pub that's much more handsome - and probably much more useful.

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz

.

New Zealand Odyssey: Graffiti, Opotiki

'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

In 1987, when I did this illustration, graffiti were more of an affront than they seem today. That is not to say that today's vandalism is forgivable, just that we've got used to it. In this case I was appalled at the mindlessness of the defacements applied to the rear walls of these Opotiki buildings. I suppose the only thing that be said in their favour is that they were applied to some pretty awful looking buildings.

If the children ('school sux') were, say, ten years old when they did this, they are thirty-four now. I wonder whether they became good citizens or went on to burglary, drugs and domestic violence?

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz