Te Papa has an enormous collection of photographs, negatives and transparencies by Brian Brake (1927 – 88), one of New Zealand’s best known photographers. Brake became famous while working overseas as a photojournalist – one of his best known works is the Monsoon photo essay, which he took in 1960. He also photographed extensively in New Zealand, taking many images of scenery and historic buildings. Many of these have come to us with nothing to tell us where they are, but maybe they’re just up the road from you. So I’m hoping you might be able to identify these for us … send us your ideas!
1 – Old wooden buildings – maybe Arrowtown?
New Zealand Historic Buildings, 1960s – 1980s, New Zealand. Brian Brake. Gift of Mr Raymond Wai-Man Lau, 2001. Te Papa
2 – Where and who is he?
New Zealand Historic Buildings: Monument, 1960s – 1980s, New Zealand. Brian Brake. Gift of Mr Raymond Wai-Man Lau, 2001. Te Papa
3 – A wee wooden church somewhere:
New Zealand Historic Buildings: Church, 1960s – 1980s, New Zealand. Brian Brake. Gift of Mr Raymond Wai-Man Lau, 2001. Te Papa
4 – A monument or a building? Nice location …
New Zealand Historic Buildings, 1960s – 1980s, New Zealand. Brian Brake. Gift of Mr Raymond Wai-Man Lau, 2001. Te Papa
5 – Maybe Otago?
New Zealand Historic Buildings, 1960s – 1980s, New Zealand. Brian Brake. Gift of Mr Raymond Wai-Man Lau, 2001. Te Papa
6 – This reminds me of some of the old East Coast freezing works . . .
New Zealand Historic Buildings:, 1960s – 1980s, New Zealand. Brian Brake. Gift of Mr Raymond Wai-Man Lau, 2001. Te Papa
8 Comments
I think A monument or a building? Nice location … is a picture of the Mormon temple at Temple View in the Waikato. And I think the last image is the Mine pump house in Waihi.
Maybe Otago? is actually Isle House, Nelson. Check this out: http://www.iselhouse.co.nz
Good spotting Victoria! I think that must be a new record – thanks!
Thanks Lucy – I’ve used your tips to check online so we’ve identified these two buildings as well. Brilliant
is 4 napier and 6 warkworth
The last one is definetly the pump house in Waihi. I used to live next door. The pump house has been moved since the photo was taken to make room for a ever growing open pit gold mine.
thanks Rudi – and for confirming it has been moved since the photo was taken.
Number 2 has been identified by a colleague – it’s the statue of William Rolleston, a former Superintendent of Canterbury, outside Canterbury Museum. Unfortunately he fell down in the Christchurch earthquake and lost his head. Someone took it away for safekeeping, leaving a note on the ‘body’ so it could be located.