Councils
- The $87 million museum project officially began with a ceremonial sod-turning event.
- Community support drove the council’s decision to fund and prioritise the museum build.
- The museum will combine tactile and immersive digital exhibits, opening in late 2026.
The next phase of work on the Museum of Southland was marked with a special sod-turning event in Invercargill, attended by elected members, key stakeholders including funding partners, contractor Naylor Love, mana whenua, and representatives from various community organisations and the region’s culture and heritage sector.
Invercargill City Council’s Lead Councillor for the museum redevelopment, Grant Dermody, described the occasion as a pivotal moment. “We have been on a long road, but now we are getting into the physical – the project’s getting off the ground and the pieces of the puzzle are all coming together,” he said. “Being able to bring such a significant community asset to life is not an everyday occurrence, and we know how much the people of Southland are looking forward to being able to see the taoka and stories of their region once more. It was a great opportunity to celebrate the progress of Museum of Southland, with so many of those whose support has been vital in getting to the point we are at today.”
Museum of Southland Director Eloise Wallace echoed the sentiments, noting the significance of the milestone. “Our region is home to such a wealth of fascinating history, fascinating stories, and Museum of Southland is going to serve as the anchor for these. Being able to celebrate the sod-turning at the site of Southland's new museum with our funding partners, our contractor, mana whenua, and others within the sector was a great insight into what this project means to the wider community and its people,” she said. “Breathing life into Museum of Southland is one step closer, and that is hugely exciting.”
The development has not been without challenges, including concerns over funding and the focus on digital interactivity. Deputy Mayor Tom Campbell highlighted the transformative potential of the project. “It’s one of these legacy projects that I think in 50 years’ time people will look back and wonder how they ever doubted,” he said.
Invercargill City Councillor Darren Ludlow reflected on the project’s journey. "As someone who was there as the chair when we first started talking about a renovation project, this is phenomenally exciting because it has been a very long and very hard and challenging road. But we're now at a point where quite obviously the whole community is just ready for us to get on with it and get it done. And I'm really excited to see it start and let's get it built as quickly as possible and get our kids in and circulating as well."
Councillor Alex Crackett shared her enthusiasm for the community-focused aspects of the redevelopment. “It’s been a long time coming, but I think the community is really excited to see and have a place to come in the winter and the weather and just really all around. I’m really excited to see what that experience is going to entail.”
Museum of Southland is scheduled to open to the public in late 2026.