Proud Wanganui Museum

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 26, 24 November 1987, Page 11

Proud Wanganui Museum

Wanganui has every reason to be proud of its museum. It is not only the fifth largest museum in the country, it is also the largest regional museum in New Zealand. It is well worth a visit while i n Wanganui. Established in 1895 ( in what is now the Savage Club Hall) the collection houses well in excess of 10,000 items, and is, o f course, continually being updated. In 1928 the present building was opened and was extended in 1968, giving it a current display

area of over 2,000 square metres. The extension houses what must be one of the largest, if not the finest, collection of Maori artefacts to be found anywhere. Included in the Maori Court (as this part of the Museum is known), is a full size canoe. This vessel is 2 3 metres long and can carry about 70 warriors. It is though to be about 175 years old. Also in this part of the museum are displays of very rare god sticks and greenstone artefacts. Throughout the museum are a number of paintings by Gottfried Lindauer (1839-1926). This is the

best collection of this artist's work outside Auckland. A feature of the museum is the recreation of an old Wanganui street, complete with shops and businesses, some of which are still in existence. There are also recreations of a blacksmith's shop, a colonial cottage and a portion of the Rutland Stockade. The second floor of the museum houses an extensive natural history display including 10 moa skeletons (mostly found in the Wanganui area), whale skeletons, and many other examples of animal and birdlife.