17 June 2013

Writers' Homes in Devonport and Stanley Bay, New Zealand


'A. R. D. FAIRBURN
 
1904–1957        POET
 
Author, Journalist, Critic, Artist,
University Lecturer.
Arthur Rex Dugard Fairburn
lived here from 1946 to 1957.
 
7 King Edward P[ara]de'
 
The booklet North Shore Literary Walks: North Shore City Heritage Trails notes that Rex Fairburn's house was a 'gathering place for writers, artists [and] musicians', and among those writers were Denis Glover, Sarah Campion, Anthony Alpers, Maurice Duggan and Frank Sargeson. Famously, though, Fairburn fell out with Sargeson: he didn't believe in state grants for writing, and he didn't like gays either.

I took this shot just across the road from the house, and it shows the truth of that line of Fairburn's (punning on Rose Fyleman's line) about his proximity to the Devonport–Auckland boat: 'There are ferries at the bottom of my garden'.

Short story writer and novelist Tina Shaw (1961–) lived at 40 Church Street from 1991 to 1995.

Her second address in Devonport was 4 Kerr Street, where she lived in 1996 and 1997.


'MAURICE DUGGAN
 
1922–1974 SHORT STORY WRITER
 
Burns Fellow and Advertising
Copywriter, Maurice Duggan lived
here 1924 to 1935
 
46 Albert Road'
 
Ian Richards's PhD thesis on Duggan is available online.


'JAMES BERTRAM
 
1910–1993 AUTHOR
 
Academic, Rhodes Scholar, War
Correspondent and Japanese
POW, born and lived in this house,
formerly the Presbyterian Manse,
from 1910 to 1914.
 
47 Vauxhall Road'

8 Domain Street, Devonport. Kevin Ireland (1933–), poet, novelist, and short story writer.

26 William Bond Street, Stanley Bay. John Graham (1922–), playwright, screenwriter and memoirist, now on Great Barrier Island.

98 Calliope Road, Stanley Bay. Dorothy Butler (1925–), educator and children's book writer.

10 Spring Street, Stanley Bay. Shonagh Koea, novelist and short story writer, lived here from 1997 to 2000.

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