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| ARTIST: | Frank Wright |
| DATES: | New Zealand 1860 - 1923 |
| TITLE: | Scows on the Hard, Cox's Creek |
| MEDIUM: | Watercolour |
| SIZE: | 23 x 34 cm |
| REMARKS: | Signed lower left |
| $NZ: | Category C |
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History of Cox’s Bay The first purchase of land in Auckland was consented by the Kawau in 1840. The western boundary of this land was “the river called Opou” or Cox’s Creek. It was soon after, in the early 1840s, that John and Jane Cox started market gardening in the area. The district was then called Richmond. The “village of Richmond”, located between Edgars and Cox’s Creek was divided into lots in 1859. The streets now known as Regina, Kingsley, Livingstone, Webber and Edgars were then laid out. Logs for the early houses were floated up Cox’s Creek and pit sawn on site. Industrial development in the area started with a brick factory in 1860 with products being shipped via Cox’s Creek to Auckland. In 1899 Cashmore Brothers set up a steam powered sawmill beside the creek below West End Road. The bay and creek were used for the transport of logs and timber. Despite strong protest by the growing local population, this mill operated until 1920 when it accidentally burnt down leaving sawdust and timber smouldering for over a year. Frank WRIGHT New Zealand 1860 - 1923 Frank Wright was born in Nottingham, England and was a member of a family of lace designers. The young Wright studied art at South Kensington under J S Rawle FRSA. He then emigrated to New Zealand with this mother and younger brother Walter, settling in Auckland in 1877. By 1885 he was exhibiting with the Auckland Society of Arts and by 1888 he was teaching art. He opened a studio in Victoria Arcade along with this brother Walter. Pupils from Wright's Studio seemed particularly successful in winning competitions. Around 1906-07 the two brothers traveled throughout New Zealand sketching and preparing material for the book 'New Zealand: Painted by F & W Wright: Described by Hon W P Reeves' and published in 1908 with seventy-five colour reproductions. Colour plates of their watercolours are also a part of 'Oceania', published in 1911. Frank Wright is known mainly for his landscapes; his brother frequently drawing the figures, which appear so often in his works. Wright's other love was music. He was a member of the Savage Club, chairman for many years of Liederstafl and one of the highly regarded Waiata Quartet. His works were exhibited for many years by the ASA and he was elected onto the council. Wright's work appeared at the Centennial Melbourne Exhibition 1888 - 1889 and his paintings are represented in most leading New Zealand public galleries. History of Cox’s Bay The first purchase of land in Auckland was consented by the Kawau in 1840. The western boundary of this land was “the river called Opou” or Cox’s Creek. It was soon after, in the early 1840s, that John and Jane Cox started market gardening in the area. The district was then called Richmond. The “village of Richmond”, located between Edgars and Cox’s Creek was divided into lots in 1859. The streets now known as Regina, Kingsley, Livingstone, Webber and Edgars were then laid out. Logs for the early houses were floated up Cox’s Creek and pit sawn on site. Industrial development in the area started with a brick factory in 1860 with products being shipped via Cox’s Creek to Auckland. In 1899 Cashmore Brothers set up a steam powered sawmill beside the creek below West End Road. The bay and creek were used for the transport of logs and timber. Despite strong protest by the growing local population, this mill operated until 1920 when it accidentally burnt down leaving sawdust and timber smouldering for over a year. |
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