What stories could these walls tell? These walls belong to the Auckland War Memorial Museum. It is one of New Zealand’s most important museums and war memorials. Welcome to a journey through history and culture.
The Auckland War Memorial Museum began its life in 1852. It was first housed in a small cottage on Grafton Road. This humble start showcased specimens of New Zealand’s natural history. It included geology, mineralogy, and zoology. Weapons from New Zealand and the Pacific Islands were shown.
In 1867, Aucklanders formed the Auckland Philosophical Society. It was later renamed the Auckland Institute. The museum transferred to the Auckland Institute. It was known as the Auckland Institute and Museum until 1996. The name Auckland War Memorial Museum emerged with the new building in 1929.
In the early 20th century, curator Thomas Cheeseman brought order to the museum. He separated natural history, sculpture, and anthropological collections. A new building was needed. It would also serve as a memorial to soldiers lost in World War I.
The Auckland City Council granted a site on Government Domain in 1918. They also provided funding for the facility. An architectural competition drew entries worldwide. The Auckland firm of Grierson, Aimer and Draffin won. Their neo-classical design was reminiscent of Greco-Roman temples.
Construction began in 1925. The Auckland War Memorial Museum opened in 1929. Governor-General Sir Charles Fergusson performed the opening honors. The building is considered one of the finest Greco-Roman buildings in the Southern Hemisphere. It has an A classification from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. This makes its preservation very important. The interior plasterwork mixes Maori details with Neo-Greek and Art Deco styles.
The Auckland War Memorial Museum has undergone additions over the years. In the late 1950s, an administration annexe was added. In 2006, the Grand Atrium enclosed the inner courtyard. A copper and glass dome sits atop the structure. Some have likened the dome to a collapsed soufflé. Others admire its undulating lines echoing Auckland’s volcanic landscape.
Inside, collections are organized into documentary heritage, natural sciences, and human history. The Documentary Heritage collections include manuscripts and photographs. The museum holds the first book written in Maori language. It is titled A Korao no New Zealand. The museum also holds papers of Sir Edmund Hillary.
The Natural Sciences collections feature 1.5 million specimens. They include botany, entomology, and geology specimens. The museum’s herbarium has over 333,000 botanical specimens. The Entomology collection contains about 250,000 catalogued specimens.
The Human History collections feature Maori and Pacific Island artifacts. Hotunui is a carved meeting house built in 1878. Te Toki-a-Tapiri is a Maori war canoe from 1830. The Applied Arts and Design collection includes ceramics and costumes. The museum has a collection of over 480 musical instruments from around the world.
The Auckland War Memorial Museum is also a war memorial. The museum has an extensive exhibition called Scars on the Heart. It covers the New Zealand Wars and overseas conflicts. The Cenotaph and Court of Honour serve as memorials. They honor those who died in the First and Second World Wars.
As you explore the Auckland War Memorial Museum, remember its significance. It stands as a guardian of Auckland’s DNA. It connects us to the past. It inspires us today. It will guide us into the future.