Waimate Museum & Archives
28 Shearman Street Waimate
(03) 689 7832 Museum
(03) 689 7842 Archives
Museum Hours
Tuesday to Friday 10am - 3.30pm
Public Holidays Closed
Other times by appointment
Admission by Donation/Koha
Archive Hours
By appointment
The Waimate Historical Society was formed in 1954, when the district was celebrating its 100th year, to preserve the history of the Waimate District.
The Museum complex is rated as a historical reserve, hosting many justice buildings (1879 Courthouse, Police Station, Jail and Stable), a pioneer cottage, old country school and several purpose built buildings. .
Exhibition highlights include:
* Ka Takata Whenua o Waihao display - a peek at pre European Māori life in Waimate.
* The Moa exhibition recaps the discovery of Moa bones in 1895 at Arno (5km south of Waimate).
* Wāhine statue, sculpted by J McDonald for the New Zealand International Exhibition, held in Christchurch 1906-1907.
* The Pavilion with a 'street of shops' and horse drawn vehicles
* Douglas School, an old country school house, educating children from the Douglas Settlement from 1912 to 1951. Moved to the Waimate Museum site in 2004.
* Machinery Hall showcasing farming equipment including the Hornsby Portable Steam Engine from the McCaw family of Hakataramea.
* Bremner Cottage, a cottage that survived the great Waimate bush fire of 1878. Depicts how people lived before 1878.
Explore our collections ONLINE
By becoming a member you know that you are helping to keep our Museum open and that the history of Waimate is preserved for the future. Thank you!
MEMBERSHIP FORM Download a membership form here.
NEWSLETTER Download our latest newsletter here.
WAIMATE MUSEUM BOOKARAMA
21st October to 26th October 2023
10:00 am until 4:00 pm daily.
In the Machinery Hall on Innes St. Opposite Lister Home.
Bookarama is our major fund raiser, held over Labour Weekend each year.
Donations of books, magazines, jigsaw puzzles, children's books, and any items for the white elephant stall are gratefully received. Please contact the Museum office to arrange a drop off at our Machinery Hall. Donations accepted throughout the year.
We have a small selection of books and souvenirs for sale. Please contact the Museum office to purchase. Payment can be made by internet banking, cash or eftpos at the Museum. Postage will be advised.
Snippets from the Waimate Advertiser spanning the years 1898 to 1952.
For other items for sale follow this link.
The Soldier and The Nurse by Joyce Cooper - $10
The stories of Irene Olorenshaw M.B.E. - Nurse, and Eric Batchelor D.C.M. and Bar - Soldier. Both Waimate Residents they served in North Africa and Italy during WW2, but their paths never crossed.
Greeting cards featuring historical photographs. Themes include: Christmas, Get well soon, Happiness, Sympathy. $3 each or 4 for $10.
Waimate Historical Museum
28 Shearman Street Waimate
(03) 689 7832
Museum Hours
Tuesday to Friday 10.00 - 3.30pm
Saturday 1.00pm - 3.00pm (Mid December - End of March)
Sundays & Public Holidays 1.00pm - 3.00pm
Monday closed (other times by appointment)
Admission by Donation
Group Bookings are welcome
Waimate Archives
Dempsey Complex, Innes Street, Waimate
(03) 689 7842
waimatearchives@xtra.co.nz
The Archives Research Room open:
Tuesday through Thursday 1:30pm-4pm.
Appointments necessary.
The Archive houses local government documents dating from 1864 (including rate books, maps and correspondence), various business and society records, school and church indexes, photographs, Waimate Advertiser newspapers and other valuable documentary material pertaining to the Waimate district. We are situated in the Dempsey Complex and can be accessed from Innes Street or through the museum grounds. Research can be carried out by yourself in our research room or by one of our staff members.
• The Waimate Historical Society was formed in 1954, when the town was celebrating its 100th year, to preserve the history of the Waimate District.
• The Museum complex is rated as a historical reserve, hosting many justice buildings (1879 Courthouse, Police Station, Jail and Stable), a pioneer’s cottage, old country school and several purpose built buildings. .
• Exhibit highlights include:
* Ka Takata Whenua o Waihao - a peek at pre European Māori life in Waimate.
* The Moa exhibition recaps the discovery of Moa bones in 1895 at Arno (5km south of Waimate)
* Wāhine statue - sculpted by J McDonald for the New Zealand International Exhibition, held in Christchurch during 1906-1907.
* Douglas School, an old country school house, educating children from the Douglas Settlement, part of the Waihao Downs Estate from 1912 – 1951. Moved to the Waimate
* Wahine Statue, sculpted by J McDonald (of Wellington) for the New Zealand International Exhibition, held in Christchurch during 1906 & 1907.
Explore our collections ONLINE
By becoming a member you know that you are helping to keep our Museum open and that the history of Waimate is preserved for the future. Thank you!
MEMBERSHIP FORM Download a membership form here.
NEWSLETTER Download our latest newsletter here.
WAIMATE MUSEUM BOOKARAMA
21st October to 26th October 2022
10:00 am until 4:00 pm daily.
In the Machinery Hall on Innes St. Opposite Lister Home.
Bookarama is our major fund raiser, held over Labour Weekend each year.
Donations of books, magazines, jigsaw puzzles, CD's and DVD's, children's books, and any items for the white elephant stall are gratefully received and may be left in the foyer of the museum most afternoons at any time throughout the year.
We have a small selection of books and souvenirs for sale. Please contact the Museum office to purchase. Payment can be made by internet banking, or cash at the museum. Postage will be advised
Waimate Advertiser 100 years of Publishing - Vol 1 to 8 $25 per vol / $180 full set
Snippets from the Waimate Advertiser spanning the years – 1898 to 1952.
For other items for sale follow this link.
The Soldier and The Nurse by Joyce Cooper - $10
The stories of Irene Olorenshaw M.B.E. - Nurse, and Eric Batchelor D.C.M. and Bar - Soldier. Both Waimate Residents they served in North Africa and Italy during WW2, but their paths never crossed.
Ted's Bottle by Jim Sullivan - $8 The story behind a poignant memorial to a fallen soldier, an unopened bottle of Ballins XXXX green-label beer behind the bar in the Waihao Forks Hotel.
