CAROLINE BAY
Clifford Brunsden (1909-1969)
Timaru from South Street Railway Bridge, c.1960
Oil on canvas
Aigantighe Art Gallery Collection 2003.36
Standing at the Railway Bridge on South Street, this painting captures a view of Timaru’s industrial centre, which was intersected by the Main South Line - a railway service running between Christchurch and Invercargill. Construction of the railways began in the 1860s, and Timaru’s sections were completed in 1876 (while the port was also undergoing extensive development). This rail network provided a vital link between Timaru and the wider South Island, allowing the freighting of goods to and from the port. In Timaru today these freight services still operate, but passenger trains were disestablished in 2002 after declining use.
Clifford Brunsden was born in Timaru and attended Timaru Boys High School and was taught by A.J. Rae. Like many young New Zealanders, Brunsden chose to travel after his studies, visiting Britain, Europe and Australia. In 1955, Brunsden returned to Timaru and was appointed first director of the Aigantighe Art Gallery, which opened the following year, in 1956.
