The Regional Maritime Museum at Port Chalmers is the focal point for the social and maritime history of the small port town of Port Chalmers, Dunedin’s West Harbour area, and the Otago coast. Our permanent displays and temporary exhibitions open a window into the lives of the people of the region and their connection with the sea.
The Museum was founded in 1913 by the Port Chalmers ‘Old Identities’ (a group of Port’s earlier immigrants concerned with the preservation of the settlement’s history). The collection initially focused on pioneer material, and was displayed in the local town hall. In the 1940s, the Museum was relocated to the local Pioneer Hall, and the collection continued to grow in size, especially after the Centenary celebrations of Otago Settlement in 1948. In 1984, the Port Chalmers Early Settlers and Historical Society (previously the Old Identities) bought Port Chalmers Post Office building. As an historic building of Category 1 significance, the 1877 Post Office was perfect to house the growing museum collection. The Museum is still active in this building today, but limited storage space means the Society is now looking to build a storage facility behind the current premises.
The Museum’s collections include items relating to the regional fishing industry, the Antarctic expeditions of Scott, Shackelton and Byrd, and the social history of Port Chalmers. The collection also comprises extensive holdings of photographs, archives and manuscripts. The Museum’s archives and research service are recognised as a significant regional information resource also used by national and international researchers.
The Museum’s temporary exhibition programmes have developed strongly in recent years. Past exhibitions include Aramoana: The Smelting Pot on the proposal to build an aluminium smelter on the Otago Harbour; and A Master Craft on the local boatbuilders Miller and Tunnage. More recently, the Museum displayed a selection of ceramic ships by New Zealand artist Robert Rapson, and commemorated the 40th anniversary of the sinking of the inter-island ferry Wahine with a popular exhibition based around local sailor Stan Spiers’ recollections of the sinking. Capturing Port, an exhibition of the photographs of D. A. De Maus, was our most recent exhibition.
We employ 1 full-time staff member, and have an active team of local volunteers. This means we can remain open to the public 7 days/week. For the last few years, over 5000 visitors have enjoyed our collections and made use of our research facilities.