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Ernie Cosgrove, of Efil Doog Sculpture Garden and art gallery, Akatarawa.
Biography
BiographyErnie worked 44 or 45 years in the dental industry, retiring as managing director of Medic Corporation in 1995.
When he moved from Christchurch to Wellington the couple bought the 90-hectare or 370-acre property in 1980, and spent years working on it before moving there in 1995; plantings included a collection of thousands of different rhododendrons and pine shelter belts. The Akatarawa River divides the property, and new ponds were added.
When Efil Doog gardens first opened to the listed some 2500 rhododendrons,100 flowering cherries and 12 000 daffodils, interspersed with about 20 large pieces of sculpture, mostly bought at a recent sculpting symposium in Wellington. They were proposing to open each year from September to mid-autumn.
A 1999 article said the extensive gardens, developed by Mrs Cosgrove and her husband Ernest and sited on the banks of the Akatarawa River, not only boasted many stone and copper sculptures but a gallery housing the couple's collection of original early New Zealand paintings.
The Cosgroves were particularly interested in artists associated with Pumpkin Cottage, which used to be at Silverstream on Fergusson Drive. Ernie had proposed to donate a 2-metre-diameter boulder implanted with a plaque commemorating the cottage, on its site, in February 1998. The project had been delayed because a proposed ProMall on the other side of Fergusson Drive might have involved realigning the road; the go-ahead, slightly further from the road, was reported in the March 10, 1999 'Leader'.
The February 2, 2000 'Leader' reported that the boulder had been placed, and would be unveiled in May. A colour image of Ernie and the memorial was printed in the Upper Hutt Leader on May 10.
By 2004 the garden was among the first 25 gardens to make the inaugural New Zealand garden register.
Ernest had worked 44 years in the dental industry.
The October 29, 2014'Leader' announced that the Cosgroves were about to sell the property and move to Rawene, on the Hokianga harbour.
The March 21, 2015 'Dominion Post' pictured them and three of their paintings; they were selling 63 original pieces and had donated 39 to the city.
However, the March 23, 2016 'Leader', which reported their diamond wedding, said they were living in Heretaunga.
The 'Leader' printed an obituary on August 3, 2016.
The March 6, 1995 'Leader' printed a comprehensive article on the gardens.
The August 23, 2016 'Dominion Post' printed an article on the first steps of an Upper Hutt statue trail; an advisory panel had been set up in 2013. Two statues from Efil Doog e were pictured; 'Mau Moana' being installed on the corner of Pine Avenue, and another statue in a pond at Te Haukaretu Park.
When he moved from Christchurch to Wellington the couple bought the 90-hectare or 370-acre property in 1980, and spent years working on it before moving there in 1995; plantings included a collection of thousands of different rhododendrons and pine shelter belts. The Akatarawa River divides the property, and new ponds were added.
When Efil Doog gardens first opened to the listed some 2500 rhododendrons,100 flowering cherries and 12 000 daffodils, interspersed with about 20 large pieces of sculpture, mostly bought at a recent sculpting symposium in Wellington. They were proposing to open each year from September to mid-autumn.
A 1999 article said the extensive gardens, developed by Mrs Cosgrove and her husband Ernest and sited on the banks of the Akatarawa River, not only boasted many stone and copper sculptures but a gallery housing the couple's collection of original early New Zealand paintings.
The Cosgroves were particularly interested in artists associated with Pumpkin Cottage, which used to be at Silverstream on Fergusson Drive. Ernie had proposed to donate a 2-metre-diameter boulder implanted with a plaque commemorating the cottage, on its site, in February 1998. The project had been delayed because a proposed ProMall on the other side of Fergusson Drive might have involved realigning the road; the go-ahead, slightly further from the road, was reported in the March 10, 1999 'Leader'.
The February 2, 2000 'Leader' reported that the boulder had been placed, and would be unveiled in May. A colour image of Ernie and the memorial was printed in the Upper Hutt Leader on May 10.
By 2004 the garden was among the first 25 gardens to make the inaugural New Zealand garden register.
Ernest had worked 44 years in the dental industry.
The October 29, 2014'Leader' announced that the Cosgroves were about to sell the property and move to Rawene, on the Hokianga harbour.
The March 21, 2015 'Dominion Post' pictured them and three of their paintings; they were selling 63 original pieces and had donated 39 to the city.
However, the March 23, 2016 'Leader', which reported their diamond wedding, said they were living in Heretaunga.
The 'Leader' printed an obituary on August 3, 2016.
The March 6, 1995 'Leader' printed a comprehensive article on the gardens.
The August 23, 2016 'Dominion Post' printed an article on the first steps of an Upper Hutt statue trail; an advisory panel had been set up in 2013. Two statues from Efil Doog e were pictured; 'Mau Moana' being installed on the corner of Pine Avenue, and another statue in a pond at Te Haukaretu Park.
Details
Date of Death16th July 2016Place of DeathHutt HospitalPlace of ResidenceEfil Doog, early 1995-October 2014SexMaleEthnicityEuropean
Place of DeathHutt HospitalPlace of ResidenceEfil Doog, early 1995-October 2014SexMaleEthnicityEuropeanMarriage
HusbandErnest CosgroveWifeShirley FalloonDateMarch 1956
WifeShirley FalloonDateMarch 1956Family
FatherErnest CosgroveMotherShirley CosgroveChildSix daughters
MotherShirley CosgroveChildSix daughtersloading google map....
Ernie Cosgrove, of Efil Doog Sculpture Garden and art gallery, Akatarawa. (March 1956). Upper Hutt Libraries, accessed 05/08/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25882