Hotel scene traffic control box art

 

The Naval and Family Hotel at the corner of Pitt Street and Karangahape Road in Newton has been going a long time. Outside, the control box artist decided to reflect what happens within. The artwork is looking a bit sad, the worse for wear with tagging and posters applied then ripped away, but it's holding its own. Apologies for the bluriness of the last shot -- the box is very near the kerb, and the intersection is a very busy one. Your humble photographer decided to play it safe ansd take a photo from the other side of the street.

 

 

 

A "Sellebration" of old ads from Kiwi telly days past

Check out the NZ Film Archive website, and their "Sellebration" collection of old telly ads. Even though I'm only of 1963 vintage myself -- I still recognised quite a few of the 1960s ones. Off now to watch the 1970s batch.

Still more old photos

Following on from the previous post.

 

 

I'd love to know the location of these four photos following. Cadets marching on an airfield? Any suggestions most welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old photos (again)

Two old photo albums were waiting for me in my letterbox this last week. The following photos can't be classed as "lost", really, as I know which family they came from (a West Auckland clan) -- but many of the faces and locations are lost to time.

These two (above) caught my attention. The dangers of a high and frisky wind while trying to get a good shot. Not sure if they came from the same day (or involved the same hat), but they might have.

I'dc say the way the two women are well rugged up, along with the wee kiddy, and said kiddy may well have been in the midst of complaining about posing so long in the cold.

The photos are in many cases in quite a sad state. Here's one example of a before, and after I did some adjusting. More following.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sign of the times

I needed to get out and about yesterday morning, so took a walk down to the end of Bolton Street in Blockhouse Bay. Officially, this sign denotes the border between Waitakere City and Auckland City, a border which has been that way for pretty much 100 years at least. Give or take some shifts. There at Bolton Street, the boundary isn't Portage Road, a few metres away, but one of the Whau River tributaries. I'd say Waitakere City were the ones who put the sign up. Slightly more of the sign given over to their name and a logo is the clue ...

If this is supposed to be a maintenance boundary, then there hasn't been much in the way of keeping the noxious weeds under control.

This is a boundary which will disappear by this time next year, as the cities amalgamate. Hence why I took a photo of the sign. To the west, lies New Lynn (the Portage Road-Bloton Street intersection) ...

... while to the east, is the suburb of  Blockhouse Bay.

 

Historic Naseby

Check out this site (link kindly sent through by Peter) from the Naseby Vision Incorporated Society -- especially the photo galleries. From the home page:

Naseby Vision Incorporated Society is a community development group which was formed in 2005.

Vision

We value:

• The Special character of our area
  • Its history
  • The ambience - the peace and quiet 
• Our Landscape
  • The forest
  • The scenic landscape and mountains
  • The climate
• Our History and Heritage
  • Our buildings
  • Our goldfield remnants
• Our Community
  • A place where a relaxed lifestyle can be enjoyed
  • The safe environment for families

Should all or any of these values be lost or degraded, the area will no longer be a 'special place'.

Hear, hear!

Ports of Auckland history links

A family historian and friend of mine, Peter, has sent through some links regarding the history of Ports of Auckland: an entry on Queens Wharf (via NZETC) from La Nouvelle-Zélande by Louis Henri Courte (1904), and a timeline history of Ports of Auckland itself.

Thanks again, Peter. Anytime you'd like to share info on the blog, just let me know. Thanks for your kind comments!

Balmoral and Sandringham (Auckland) heritage walks brochure

The latest of Auckland City's heritage brochures is out (it may be the last before Super City takes hold -- hope not, there's more info on Mt Albert and Morningside to come yet.) I worked on the research for this one, but aside from that, I think it's a beautifully put-together production. Matthews & Matthews Architects were the co-ordinators.

Our local libraries should have copies shortly.

The Balmoral part came from an earlier heritage study. Also included is information from the Eden Park study.

Birds at Catherine Place

Another trip into Henderson today on business, and I passed by one of my favourite examples of utility box art at Catherine Place, the front entry to Henderson's Westcity mall (which I still, now and then, call by the old name of Henderson Square.)

 

It does have a companion box, but this one is close to a wall, and is used by a street trader as a leaning post for his wares. I think you can get a gist though from this single shot.