Wyndham & Districts Historical Museum

Left to right: Shirley Wood (secretary), Ossie Hunter (founding member), Ina Sinclair (founding member) and Agnes Thwaites on the occasion of the 20th birthday of Wyndham & Districts Museum 16 September 2008.

A meeting was held on 12 April 1978 to gauge interest in forming a group to start collecting items of historical interest to Wyndham and from this meeting the Wyndham & Districts Historical Society was formed.

Betty Geary was the first President of the Wyndham and Districts Historical Society - a position she currently holds after a gap of several years.

The first item of business for the society was to prevent the demolition of the Wyndham courthouse that might have been suitable for the museum - this bid was unsuccessful and all that remains in the present museum is a Marseille tile from the roof. The society put aside their initial disappointment however and on 8 June 1978 their constitution was drawn up.

Other buildings were investigated for the growing collections and the society continued to build up funds by way of sing-a-longs, sweet and cake stalls and bus trips. Volunteers promoted the importance of the area's history at gala days and through window displays for various events and also attended museum workshops at Otago Museum.

An important highlight of this period of development was a pictorial history of the district that was begun by Kay Hunter at the society's 9th AGM in 1987. This became a published book by Agnes Thwaites, entitled The Wyndham Story 1854-2000: Life Between The Three Rivers, that was launched in 2003.

Wyndham & Districts Museum (Balaclava St, Wyndham) is a vital part of its community. The United Trading Company building that the museum is currently housed in is at the centre of the photograph.

In 1988, the United Trading Company building in Balaclava Street, Wyndham, became available and from June onwards an intense period of securing and fitting out the buildings for a museum began. Numerous working bees were held with display furniture donated and objects installed prior to the official opening on Friday, the 19th August 1988.

In 1991, the Historical Society became incorporated and in 1997 a substantial Community Trust of Southland grant enabled the society to complete work on the walls, floors and roof.

Reference and research section at the Wyndham & Districts Historical Museum showing a comprehensive collection of scrapbooks relative to the area.

The '1 ton cheese' made for the Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition in 1925-26. Wyndham & Districts Museum collection WY91.36

The museum holds more than 5000 documents, photographs and artefacts relative to sheep, dairy farming, dairy factories, household items and military memorabilia relative to the area. Significant objects include the photographic portrait of Dr Menzies, an 1832 Scottish sampler and a fine example of Victorian hair-work.

The museum houses bound copies of the Wyndham Farmer newspaper and scrapbooks relative to the area and has a dedicated group of volunteers who assist visitors with their genealogy and other enquiries.

Wyndham & Districts Museum July 2007

The Wyndham & Districts Museum also operates as the town's information centre.

Street Address:
Wyndham & Districts Historical Museum
31 Balaclava Street
Wyndham
Southland
New Zealand

Postal Address:
Wyndham & Districts Historical Museum
C/- Shirley Wood
George Street
Edendale
Southland
New Zealand

Ph: 03 206 4590
Email: Betty Geary grandmabet@xnet.co.nz
           Shirley Wood shirley.robert@clear.net.nz
           Katherine Kingdon kingdon@woosh.co.nz

Opening Hours:
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 2.00 - 4.00 pm
Other days/times by arrangement (on request)

Entry fee: Donation