|
Situated 3 km north of Coromandel town the Driving Creek Railway and Potteries complex is the vision of its founder Barry Brickell. His life-long passion is the successful combination of Art, Conservation and Engineering. The complex of vernacular kiwi-style architecture contains artist's studios, a craft and bookshop with souvenirs and a railway station. Barry Brickell and staff took 26 years to build a spectacular narrow-gauge railway winding its way up through replanted native forest to a ridge-top terminus aptly named the Eyefull Tower, from which great views out over the Hauraki Gulf and forest-covered hills are obtained. Indeed the railway is a major tourist attraction on the Coromandel Peninsula. At the potteries can be seen hand-crafted domestic ware as well as highly adventurous and creative terracotta sculptural pieces in the adjacent sculpture garden. Also to be seen is a brick-making plant and glass-blower's studio.
Brickmaking has always had a place at the potteries, because thanks to commercial vandalism, says Barry Brickell, interesting bricks are no longer made in NZ. A fine example of his brick architecture can be seen at the potteries craft shop and railway ticket office building, which also houses a private art collection which is viewable on request. Bricks are available for sale.
The glass-blowing studio has a viewing platform where visitors can see the exacting and spectacular craft of the glass-blowers at work. The furnace is unique in that it burns cheaply available waste oil to keep the glass in a molten state for working with. Phone beforehand, to find out when glass-blowing is being done (07 8668 703).
As a dedicated conservationist, Barry Brickell established a native forest restoration project in 1974 when he acquired his hilly 60 acre (22 hectare) property. Thousands of native trees have been planted many of which are seen from the train. Also, train passengers can see terracotta art works in the landscape.
|
