New Zealand Odyssey: Town Houses, Napier 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.

A friend of mine was a part investor in this hideous row of pseudo-Mediterranean townhouses. They replaced a number of classic kauri cottages and villas that had stood on the site for over a century. I not only knew the investor, I also knew one of tenants - he thought they were wonderful. Takes all sorts...

Meanwhile I also knew a young woman who lived in one of the remaining crumbling old villas further down Napier Street. It was her firm opinion that this line up of neo-Coronation Street hutches 'brought the whole tone of the neighbourhood down.'

As for me: I'm just a simple artist recording what was expressing the New Zealand character in the late 1980s.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz