New Zealand's Colonial Museum

A DigitalNZ Story by Fiona

New Zealand's Colonial Museum opened in 1865 in a small wooden building behind the New Zealand Parliament, on what is still known as Museum Street. The Colonial Museum became known as the Dominion Museum in 1907. The New Zealand Dominion Museum and National Art Gallery opened on Buckle Street in 1936. Visit http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/AboutUs/history/Pages/default.aspx for more on the history of New Zealand's national museum.

new zealand, colonial museum, museum, dominion museum, te papa tongarewa museum of new zealand

Image: Colonial Museum, Wellington

Colonial Museum, Wellington

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Colonial Museum interior, Museum Street, Thorndon, Wellington

Colonial Museum interior, Museum Street, Thorndon, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Colonial Museum

Colonial Museum

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: MEMORANDUM CONCERNING THE COLONIAL MUSEUM.

MEMORANDUM CONCERNING THE COLONIAL MUSEUM.

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Museum Street, Wellington

Museum Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Thorndon, Wellington, including Museum Street [Sydney Street in foreground?], Government House, Colonial Museum, and ships in Wellington Harbour

Thorndon, Wellington, including Museum Street [Sydney Street in foreground?], Government House, Colonial Museum, and ships in Wellington Harbour

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Museum Street area, Wellington

Museum Street area, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Museum Street, Thorndon, Wellington, showing Colonial Museum in foreground on left, looking towards St Mary's Catholic Cathedral on Hill Street

Museum Street, Thorndon, Wellington, showing Colonial Museum in foreground on left, looking towards St Mary's Catholic Cathedral on Hill Street

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Thorndon, Wellington, showing Museum Street, with James Hector's house and garden on corner, the Colonial Museum, and Lambton Harbour in distance

Thorndon, Wellington, showing Museum Street, with James Hector's house and garden on corner, the Colonial Museum, and Lambton Harbour in distance

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Intersection of Sydney and Museum Streets, Wellington - Photograph taken by Daniel Louis Mundy

Intersection of Sydney and Museum Streets, Wellington - Photograph taken by Daniel Louis Mundy

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Burton Brothers, 1868-1898 (Firm, Dunedin) : Photograph of Museum Street, Wellington

Burton Brothers, 1868-1898 (Firm, Dunedin) : Photograph of Museum Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group with mounted skeleton, including James Hector

Group with mounted skeleton, including James Hector

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Mundy, Daniel Louis, 1826-1881: Wellington from the corner of Museum and Sydney Streets

Mundy, Daniel Louis, 1826-1881: Wellington from the corner of Museum and Sydney Streets

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Creator unknown : Wellington from above Sydney Street West, Thorndon

Creator unknown : Wellington from above Sydney Street West, Thorndon

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group including Dr A C Barker, R H Rhodes and W M Maskell, alongside a display of Maori artifacts

Group including Dr A C Barker, R H Rhodes and W M Maskell, alongside a display of Maori artifacts

Alexander Turnbull Library