Golden Bay Museums
Golden Bay Museum
While in Takaka make sure you visit the Museum and adjacent Gallery, located in the shopping centre.
You’ll be quickly drawn to the beautifully crafted diorama depicting Abel Tasman’s 1642 encounter with local Maori. An educational book detailing this encounter is available for sale at the museum. Wander around displays on Maori and European history of this region. You’ll be surprised at the range of material in these and other regular changing displays.
The archive area houses a comprehensive range of reference material and photographs for those researching local and family history. There’s a very reasonable charge for the archivist’s services.
The Gallery next door features a wonderful range of New Zealand art and craft. Don’t miss it …. and don’t forget to admire the superb matai floor! Adjacent to the museum is the tiny but appealing Pioneer Park. With shaded seats, pergola, open lawn space and pleasant trees, it’s the perfect place for a five-minute rest.
In 1985 the Takaka Museum Committee was formed to purchase a private collection of material considered to have significant educational value pertaining to the history of Golden Bay. The archives hold information on Golden Bay families, local industries and a collection of local photographs. Highlights are displays on the conchology and geology of New Zealand, and model ships the Heemskerck and Zeehaen which form part of the diorama of Abel Tasman’s encounter with Maori warriors in Wainui Bay in 1642.
(text from nzlive.com)
Collingwood Museum and Aorere Centre
As befits a town of this age, there is a small museum in the main street. It was established in 1969 in the former 1910 council office building. A stroll back in time with aspects of early development of the district: home, school, gold, coal, timber, farming, military with our ‘through the years’ photographic display.
Recently renovated display rooms feature aspects of the early development of the district – home and school, gold, coal, timber and farming, military, horse gear, mineral and adze collections, plus other memorabilia, including a ‘through-the-years’ photographic display.
For family and local historical research enquiries, and to deposit photos, family histories and heritage items with our museum collections, contact Collingwood Museum Society, Inc, phone 03 524 8131. Admission is by donation. Open daily. Tasman Street, Collingwood.
Aorere Centre is alongside the Museum. This heritage facility uses multi-media to present local history from early Maori to European settlement to more recent times. Special features are the works of Fred Tyree, (pioneer photographer) and the Historic Map of Western Golden Bay – Mohua by well-known local artist Kathy Reilly. Discover the rich history of western Golden Bay, from early Maori arrivals to European settlement. Local stories feature agriculture, industry, gold, shipwrecks, lighthouses and the Collingwood fires. Open Daily 10–dusk. Admission by donation. 2 Tasman Street, Collingwood.
Golden Bay Machinery & Settlers’ Museum
Appropriately sited in the old Collingwood Cheese Factory (at Rockville) is this interesting museum featuring all manner of vintage tractors, farm machinery and implements, vehicles, horse gear and a wide range of settlers’ items.
A working steam section with ‘Steam Up’ days are held at Easter, Labour Weekend, Christmas/New Year. There is a pioneer kitchen with a wood and coal range where scones are baked and served on ‘Steam Up’ days. Open daily. Admission is by donation. 869 Collingwood-Bainham Road, Rockville. Ph: 03 524 8131