Centennial Exhibition

A DigitalNZ Story by tingsun

The New Zealand Centennial Exhibition ran from 8 November 1939 to 4 May 1940. During this time 2,641,043 people went through the main gates with a daily average attendance of 17,149. The exhibition covered 55 acres (22.2 hectares) of land just to the west of Wellington's airport. After the exhibition closed the buildings were used as extra accommodation by the Air Force. Following the war they were used to store wool. The buildings burned down in September 1946. p.s. really wish we could have it back.

centennial exhibition

Image: Centennial Exhibitions - Wellington

Centennial Exhibitions - Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Centennial Exhibitions - Wellington

Centennial Exhibitions - Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Centennial Exhibitions - Wellington

Centennial Exhibitions - Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Centennial Exhibitions - Wellington

Centennial Exhibitions - Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Centennial Exhibitions - Wellington

Centennial Exhibitions - Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: New Zealand Centennial Exhibition

New Zealand Centennial Exhibition

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Centennial Exhibition souvenir

Centennial Exhibition souvenir

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Centennial Exhibition tower, 1940

Centennial Exhibition tower, 1940

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Model ships at the Centennial Exhibition

Model ships at the Centennial Exhibition

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Aerial view of Centennial Exhibition

Aerial view of Centennial Exhibition

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Māori performance at Centennial Exhibition

Māori performance at Centennial Exhibition

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage