Wallpaper
Description
Two ragged pieces of of wallpaper. Both pieces feature a blue floral design on a predominantly yellow background on one side and a red, tan and blue floral design on the other.
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Object detail
Subject person
Classification
Collection
Credit line
Two
fragments
of
unremarkable
floral
wallpaper
provide
a
link
to
a
fast-living
Taranaki
author
and
the
demolition
of
the
Hawera
house
where
he
lived
and
died.When
diners
tuck
into
their
potato
and
gravy
at
the
KFC
on
the
corner
of
Regent
Street
and
South
Road
today
few
probably
think
of
Ronald
Hugh
Morrieson,
the
author
who
scandalised
his
home
town
during
the
1960s
with
his
novels.
His
lively
portrayals
of
bizarre
crimes,
colourful
characters
and
sexual
misdeeds
set
in
provincial
New
Zealand
did
not
endear
him
to
many
who
felt
he
was
giving
the
town
a
bad
name.
When
his
alcohol
abuse
finally
killed
him
in
1972
there
were
only
a
few
that
mourned.
Critical
acclaim
and
box
office
success
followed
his
untimely
death
but
it
seems
many
remained
unhappy
with
his
work.When
his
former
house
was
earmarked
for
demolition
by
KFC
in
1992
a
controversy
erupted
with
a
small
group
of
locals
starting
a
petition
to
save
it
as
a
site
of
historic
and
literary
significance.
Sixty
signatures
were
gathered
in
favour
but
an
opposing
petition
attracted
1300
and
the
house
was
demolished.
This wallpaper was salvaged by a supporter of the house shortly before the wreckers moved in. The attic, with much of the wallpaper still intact, was salvaged by Robert Surgenor and is currently stored on his Hawera farm.
This wallpaper was salvaged by a supporter of the house shortly before the wreckers moved in. The attic, with much of the wallpaper still intact, was salvaged by Robert Surgenor and is currently stored on his Hawera farm.
Accession number
PA2006.177
Collection type
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