Sunday 9 August 2015

Doris Cottage

Mrs Emily Menzies, Doris Cottage, 1958
The same research inquiry about the Harraway painting mentioned in the previous post originally started as a question about Doris Cottage. Where was it in Otautau? The original inquiry actually appeared (on 27 July) on the Otautau, New Zealand Facebook page, so there was a ready audience to tackle the question. We also asked some key museum people. The inquirer supplied a photo (above) which helped to verify the location and information about her grandmother who lived there.

Doris Cottage was a wooden house situated at 47 Queen Street, right next to the first Presbyterian Church. The house is no longer there. A subsequent house was built but then eventually relocated leaving an empty section today. We would like to know more about Doris Cottage such as how it got its name. If you have any information please let us know via email or the Otautau Museum Facebook page. Thank you.

Note: We're closed for the winter but will open again in October 2015. You can request an individual visit by request if you would like to see the museum in person.

Saturday 8 August 2015

Harraway Painting

A family research question crossed our desk this week regarding a painting. It was signed by E Harraway and dated 20 Nov 1901. 



The painting was found in a house at 47 Queen Street, Otautau, and was unframed. When the owner moved away in the 1960s, she took it with her, and it was later framed.

We don't know of any Harraways in Otautau, yet there must be some connection somewhere.

If you have any information on the painter or where the landscape is taken from, please get in touch.

Thank you.

Note: We're closed for the winter but will open again in October 2015. You can request an individual visit by request if you would like to see the museum in person.