I have no idea who made this paua shell sculpture in Oban on Stewart Island or even if it is still there. It sat right beside a large, outdoor chess set that is a popular activity for tourists who are waiting for the ferry. Wanting to find out more about this sculpture I did an online search but drew a blank. So, now I’m left with a photo of a paua shell sculpture but have no other details! Either way, it was very nice and paua shells are always a delight to look at. John's Blog https://fromasmallcity.nz/ The latest print price guide: https://bit.ly/3oLw9OI
On one of my travels through to Central Otago via the pigroot, I turned off State Highway 85 and took the Loop Road through St Bathans. This was a bit of a spontaneous decision but one I knew I wouldn’t regret as St Bathans is a lovely place that is as charming as it is delightful. Small, but quite wonderful. So, it wasn’t long before I had purchased a coffee at the local hotel and had made my way to the nearby lake where I consumed my hot beverage in the tranquillity of having the whole lake to myself. Deciding I should see something new before leaving, I recalled the ruins of the former school were closer by, so I made up my mind to go exploring for a bit. Having recently been advertised for sale, I wanted to explore the ruins before the new owner put up one of those annoying ‘private property, beware of the dog, trespassers will be prosecuted or shot!’ signs up. The school building was opened in April 1875 with the occasion being celebrated with a ‘Grand Ball’ and showing just how cold St Bathans can get in the winter; the forty or so children had to occasionally scratch out their lessons using frozen ink. Like many small communities in Otago, after the gold dried up, the miners left and with it the school roll dropped until the 1930’s when only a handful of children were left. Then, the building became damaged in an earthquake in 1943 when it was turned over to the local pest destruction board before ending up in private ownership. I must have spent a good hour wandering round the site looking at what remains of what was once a key feature in a bustling gold mining town. John's Blog https://fromasmallcity.nz/ The latest print price guide: https://bit.ly/3oLw9OI
Following yesterday’s astounding autumn colours from Arrowtown and the Chinese Village by the Arrow River, here’s another autumn in Arrowtown image. Most of the images I see of the historic Gold Miners Cottages on the main street are fairly old, so I set out one day to create my own updated version. These cottages date back 140 years to the gold rush days and have been restored in the last years by the Department of Conservation. John's Blog https://fromasmallcity.nz/ The latest print price guide: https://bit.ly/3oLw9OI
