Buggyrobot Gallery
Monday9:30 am – 4:30 pm.
TuesdayClosed.
Wednesday9:30 am – 4:30 pm.
Thursday9:30 am – 4:30 pm.
Friday9:30 am – 4:30 pm.
Saturday9:30 am – 4:30 pm.
Sunday9:30 am – 4:30 pm.
Ōamaru may be small, but its charm is mighty. Many unique and independently owned stores make up the town’s character, and Buggyrobot Gallery is one such place. A quirky gallery and workshop in the heart of Ōamaru’s Victorian Precinct, it’s a must-visit.
Martin Horspool originally hails from Wales, and for the last 15 years, he has been building metal art and doing watercolour illustrations and paintings - Buggyrobot is his chance to showcase his creations. No two pieces are the same in the gallery, and as you wander around the showroom, each new piece you come across will make you pause and consider it.
The process around creating these artworks is very unique, and Martin is a big proponent of upcycling items he finds and extending their life in a new way. He will often find discarded items from kerbsides or source materials from antique stores, markets and scrap yards. The robot creations on display in the gallery often involve now-extinct devices or machines that are reimagined into characters from Martin’s imagination. And some of his favourite pieces to make are large, wall-mounted taxidermy-style trophy heads, combining antlers with vintage appliances.
A visit to Buggyrobot Gallery will put a smile on your face, and chances are you won’t have experienced anything quite like it before.
Words by Julia Rutherford & Photography by Nancy Zhou
Information not correct? Report an error
Location
6a Harbour Street, South Hill, Oamaru
Nearby Places
Tees St
Cucina’s day time counterpart with colourful, tasty brunch plates. The huevos rancheros have been winning ‘big brekkie’ traditionalists over since 2016 and the bombolino doughnuts are the mid-day treat you deserve.
Hub and Sprocket Cycles
Possibly our most bikeable region, the Waitaki is home to plenty of rugged scenery and flat to not-so-flat cycleways. Get your gear sorted and check out the tours that range from day trips to the full A2O at Hub and Sprocket Cycles.
The Criterion Hotel
First established in 1877, the Criterion Hotel Bar and Eatery is the jewel in the crown in the historic Victorian precinct in Ōamaru.
Hyde Boutique
Retail therapy doesn’t get any better in Ōamaru than Hyde Boutique, a high-end designer fashion destination situated on the town’s busy Thames Street.
Similar Places
Grainstore Gallery
Not quite a gallery or a studio, Grainstore Gallery is an emporium of local artist Donna Demente’s larger than life paintings and sculptures and the ephemera that informs them. Climb up the stairs and be immersed in her creative world.
Crafted
It’s hard not to be inspired by Ōamaru’s rugged coastline and fabled history. The town is home to many talented makers and artists, and at the collective gallery you can explore their work at your own pace.
Steampunk HQ
This epicentre of Steampunk culture comes alive at the Steampunk HQ, where interactive art comes to life in a way that’s fun, antique and futuristic all at once.
The Terraces
Local Kevin Murdoch restored The Terraces building and filled it with historical relics and an art studio. Pop in for a chat with Kevin and the other Ōamaru artist in residence, Al Bell - this is something of an alternative visitors’ centre.
Three Kids, Three Restaurants and a Whole Lot of Heart
Cure Weekend Brunching with the Best Cafés in Ōamaru
