Friday Flashback - Southland Museum Athenaeum and Beyond

Invercargill’s first museum began in 1872, evolving from a small shop to a cultural landmark.
Faced with spatial challenges, it moved several times, expanding and adapting to meet community needs.
The museum closed in 2018 due to earthquake risks, with the demolition of the iconic pyramid roof scheduled for April 15.

In 1872, Invercargill opened its very first museum within a modest Scotch Pie shop on Dee Street. This unique establishment quickly became a local curiosity, housing a diverse collection including a live monkey, a tortoise, a kiwi, and a kakapo. Its array of preserved insects, stuffed birds, seals, and other artifacts drew consistent foot traffic.

By 1876, the burgeoning collection needed more space and was relocated to an Edwardian Baroque building next to Post Office Square. This new home, known as the Athenaeum, served dual purposes as both a library and a museum, establishing itself as Invercargill’s hub of knowledge and culture. Here, a beloved tuatara roamed freely, becoming a local celebrity.

The Athenaeum on corner of Esk and Dee street, basically where Wachner place is now. Note that Minerva from outside of the museum is standing proudly on top of this glorious Edwardian/ Victorian structure. Photo: Old Invercargill.

The centennial memorial Southland Museum was officially opened on May 9, 1942 by Deputy Mayor A Wachner. Photo: Old Invercargill

The museum’s growth continued but was hindered by spatial limitations, prompting a move in 1912 to the Southland Technical College. Efforts in the 1930s to develop a new Provincial Museum in Queens Park materialized in 1942, despite setbacks from wartime shortages, marking a significant achievement for the community. Related: Demolition Of Museum Pyramid Starts Next Week

The Museum before getting pyramid-ed. Photo: Old Invercargill

Despite its eventual closure in 1959 due to financial constraints, the museum’s legacy was reignited through public support. This led to the expansion of its facilities in the 1960s and 70s, including an art gallery, a shop, and an observatory.

The museum enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, highlighted by the introduction of a tuatara named George in the early 1970s, which endeared the museum to the public even more.

From 1970 newspaper. An enterprising Standard 3 class at Hawthorndale school, has raised $62 for the Southland Museum appeal by holding a fair and taking part in the “buy a brick” scheme. Here, Kenneth Potts, aged 10 (on the left), hands the cheque to the chairman of combined museum appeal committee, Mr A. C. Naylor, while his teacher, Mrs D. McCoy looks on. other classes in the school raised $29 through the “buy a brick” scheme.

In 1990, a pyramid roof was installed to provide additional space while preserving the original structure. This architectural feature became a symbol of the museum, which boasted the highest per capita attendance of any provincial museum in New Zealand by 1992.

Invercargill’s 1942 Museum being covered with the pyramid shell some time around its 1990 upgrade. Photo: Old Invercargill

Invercargill’s 1942 Museum being covered with the pyramid shell some time around its 1990 upgrade. Due to earthquake risk the Museum was closed in April of 2018 and remains closed today. Photo: Old Invercargill.

The museum faced challenges again in 2008 with redevelopment plans halted due to structural issues elsewhere in the city. It closed in 2018 due to earthquake risks, and the demolition of its iconic pyramid is set to commence on April 15.

The late Mrs Mabel Wachner, wife of former Invercargill Mayor Abraham Wachner (served 1942-1950) pictured in the Victoriana kitchen at Invercargill Museum and Art Gallery.The photo was taken at the time of Municipality Celebrations in 1971. Mrs Wachner M.B.E. died in 2001 at age 108. The black and white photograph is of Lesley’s grandmother Hazel McKnight and the colorized photograph is Mabel Wachner, these pictures were taken around the same time at the museum. Thanking Lesley Treweek for these awesome photos and the information behind them!

In 2018 Invercargill’s museum closed indefinitely due to earthquake risk. Hopefully what ever form a future museum may come in, it will be built to last this time.

The demolition of the pyramid is scheduled to begin on April 15. “For over three decades, this pyramid has been a backdrop to Invercargill’s daily life. It’s fitting we send it off with a tribute to the memories it hosted,” added Wallace.