Brees, Samuel Charles, 1819-1865 :Cooper house, Wades Town. [ca 1844]

Shows 'The Red House' or the Barracks in Thorndon Quay, built by Mr Cooper (William Couper) of the Thistle Inn. The scene also shows another house above it, and a sketchy indication of Tiakiwai Pa (described in Brees' text as 'Jackawai') in the middle distance. There are three ships in the harbour, with Kaiwharawhara stretching into the distance. Maori and soldiers can be seen communicating in the foreground

William Couper (Cooper) was a Scottish publican who built the Thistle Inn in 1840. The original building remained until destroyed by fire in 1866

'The Barracks, Thorndon', copied from this original, appeared as Plate 18, no.55 and with descriptive text on p.32 of Brees's 'Pictorial illustrations of New Zealand' (1947). The Library holds multiple copies of this publication, including facsimiles

Other Titles - Couper

Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - Cooper Ho. Wades Town [in pencil]; Verso - top left - Mr McKenzie [in pencil]

Quantity: 1 watercolour(s).

Physical Description: Watercolour on wove paper, 195 x 280 mm

Provenance: The vendor's grandmother, a Wellington resident, acquired it at auction (date not known). It was afterwards handed down to her daughter, and then to the vendor. (Information from Jane McKinlay)