Manhole Covers, New Zealand

Sometimes it pays to look down to find beauty. Like these New Zealand manhole covers.

a deco one from Napier


and a more modern one (2005) from Wellington

former Warragul Playgroup Building

I don't know much about this building at all but I pass it very often since it is on the way into Warragul off the second freeway exit. Signage in front of the building indicates that it was once the home of the Warragul Playgroup, a childminding centre I presume, but I am fairly sure that it is no longer used for that purpose.

Lettering on the front edge of the awning reads 'Exhibition Hall' so I guess that is another former use. Sometimes when I've been going past there as been some activity in the building. I can recall a plant seller operating out of it for a few days and a bookseller at another time but theses occupations have been short-lived one-off events. It is 'on the wrong side of the tracks', so cut off by the Gippsland railway line, it is a bit of a hike from Warragul's commercial centre.

Still, it is an attractive building and looks great in the afternoon sun against a blue sky. I suspect the pencil pines are part of the original planting since they are now taller than the building but they have been placed to reinforce the regular spacing of the windows.

Building, Napier

A nice corner Deco building from 1934 in Napier, NZ.

Te Mata Masonic Lodge, Havelock North

Te Mata Masonic Lodge, Havelock North

State Theatre, Masterton

According to the Cinema Treasures website, the State Theatre in Masterton, NZ was built in the 1930s. The decoration around the upper storey windows and the leadlight windows in the shops at street level confirm the deco connection.

Reference:
State Theatre, Masterton, NZ, Cinema Treasures

Staircase, Urca

If you've been paying attention you will remember I posted some photos of an amazing bathroom in a house in the Rio suburb of Urca. I also posted some pics of the front door with figures of a hunter and a gazelle incorporated into the metal work. This is the staircase that greets you once you get inside that front door.

Fish Creek Hotel, Fish Creek

The Fish Creek, better known locally as the Fishy Pub.

KIngs Theatre, Bega

The Kings Theatre in Bega opened in 1935 and closed in 1992. Since then there has been talk of setting it up as a regional performing arts space. I'm not sure what the current status is but you can see that there is a furniture store firmly entrenched on the ground floor.

Reference:
Historic theatre pitched for new arts space, ABC News, 20 Jul 2011