Waipū Welcomes You barn helps rural friendship bloom over arts

Artist Melinda Butt and barn and farm owner Lachie McLean at the repainted Waipū Welcomes You barn on State Highway One just south of the town. Photo / Michael Cunningham

An iconic Northland barn has undergone a radical refresh, striking up a friendship between an artist and farmer in the process.

The 60-year-old roadside Waipū Welcomes You barn's makeover is complete, ready to welcome travellers back to the region post lockdown. It is one of the first visual objects seen when travelling SH1 and also the first large-scale artwork when entering the Whangārei district.

It now sports a bright-purple shade, as opposed to the familiar yellow, and a design by award-winning local artist Melinda Butt.

"I'm feeling good about the artwork," she said. "It was extremely challenging to paint, probably the hardest canvas I've worked on to date. Windy days, corrugation and curves required a lot of patience. But I'm really happy with the result and the barn is gleaming with a new lease of life."

Artist Melinda Butt was happy with the result, despite it being the hardest canvas she had worked on. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Also happy was barn and farm owner Lachie McLean, who said even though it's not the colour he would have chosen, this makeover was the grandest of the lot.

"I think everyone is quite pleased. It certainly looks much better than it did, it was in a terrible state. I think they've done a good job on it and good on the young people to have the initiative to promote Waipū. When you live in a community, you're happy to support it."

He said his father, who built the barn in the mid-60s – one of the first round barns in Northland – would probably feel the same as himself.

The newly repainted Waipū Welcomes You barn by artist Melinda Butt.

McLean had built up a "lovely" friendship with the artist throughout the process, stopping in to check on progress each day.

"I'm interested in the performing arts and she's interested in the arts so we have a lot in common," said the long-time musical theatre director and producer.

Added Butt: "It's been great to meet and develop a friendship with Lachie who has been very supportive of the project."

The project was given the green light after Love Waipu Business & Community obtained a Whangārei District Council community funding grant to repaint the barn.

Before painting could begin, repair work was needed on the rusted barn, including where cows had been using it as a scratching post. Businesses chipped in, such as ISS for the scaffolding, Troy's Water Blasting Services, and Resene. Butt had enlisted the help of fellow painter Ronnie Haynes for the task.

Her design is abstract and geometrical for ease of large-scale paint application. Rather than one set pattern or pictorial theme, the abstract nature of the work is adapted to suit the unique needs of the existing corrugated iron canvas, and the intended viewing distance.

"I've had some great feedback from locals and many friendly toots from trucks driving past. It was a lovely location to work in, nice peaceful surroundings with lots of birdsong.
Cole, the scaffolding manager, went out of his way to help me with some of the details on the design and the logistics of being able to paint the harder-to-reach places. I've had a good response to the purple so it's nice to know people are embracing the bold colours. I feel it looks striking against the green paddocks."

With fond memories of teenage summer holidays at Waipū, she was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to refresh the barn.

"When driving over the Brynderwyns, seeing the barn was an icon of summer beginning. Now as a Waipū local, having the opportunity to paint the iconic barn is a real treat," she said, before beginning the project. "I have done a lot of murals in Northland and in Auckland, but this is the first time I'll be creating something in my home town."

Mclean lives in the original 1908 homestead on the 176ha dairy farm, which has been in his family 150 years.

The former familiar Waipū barn.

He believed it was first suggested the barn be used as a welcoming sign around the year 2000. It was first painted by local artist Yvonne Ritchie, followed by its first makeover, retaining the familiar yellow hue.

Butt had put forward several designs and the community had voted. While the font remains the same, the base is purple, inspired by the traditional Waipū tartan. The design incorporates the symbolic Waipū thistle in a contemporary take on the emblem and depicts "that wonderful vista" where the hills meet the ocean, as well as keeping some of the familiar yellow.

Love Waipū committee member Emma McLean said the project aimed to uplift the spirits of travellers returning home and domestic travellers visiting the Waipū and Whangārei districts once border restrictions eased.

■ Sadly, the newly painted barn won't be seen by the thousands who attend the annual Waipū Highland Games, which have been cancelled due to Covid uncertainty.

The Games were to be held in Caledonian Park, Waipū, on January 1 - and have been running in the town for 148 years.

The Waipū Caledonian Committee says due to the wide range of restrictions on holding such a large event - the Games attract well over 7000 - it has been hard to organise next year's games.

"We would like to acknowledge that for our competitors this is extremely disappointing.''

It's hoped the 150th Waipu Games can be held on January 1, 2023.