CAROLINE BAY
Ainslie Manson (1917-1983)
Timaru Port, c.1957
Oil on canvas
Alganitighe Art Gallery Collection 1996.33
The construction of Timaru’s marine port in the late nineteenth-century played a crucial role in the development of the town and wider region. Breakwaters and wharfs were built, allowing ships to anchor closer to shore, rather than along reefs. With these additions, cargo could be offloaded and passengers could disembark directly onto land, rather than onto smaller boats to be ferried ashore. The development of the harbour spurred local businesses and helped form Caroline Bay, which continues to be enjoyed as a place to swim and play.
Ainslie Manson studied at the Canterbury College of Arts and served in World War II, before been appointed as Head of the Art Department at Timaru’s Technical College. He was also an active member of the South Canterbury Art Society, serving as president in 1954. He assisted in establishing the Alganitighe Art Gallery, which opened in 1956, later becoming the gallery’s director from 1970-1982.
