New Zealand Dominion Museum building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Zealand Dominion Museum |
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The former Dominion Museum
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| Former names | National Museum |
| General information | |
| Location | Buckle street, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 41°17′58″S 174°46′37″E / 41.299538°S 174.776843°E |
| Current tenants | Massey University |
| Completed | 1936 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Gummer and Ford |
The New Zealand Dominion Museum building is a historic place in Wellington, New Zealand. It was finished in 1936. You can find it on Buckle Street, right next to the National War Memorial.
This building was once home to several important places. These included the National Museum and the National Art Gallery of New Zealand. It also housed the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. Today, parts of the building are used by the Massey University Wellington Campus.
Contents
History of the Museum Building
The museum building has a long and interesting history. Before 1907, the Dominion Museum was called the Colonial Museum. This first museum was in a small wooden building. It was located behind what is now the New Zealand Parliament Buildings.
New Building Plans
In 1930, a new law was passed. This law was called the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum Act. It created a group of people, called a board of trustees, to manage the museum. This led to the planning and building of the new museum on Buckle Street.
The new building was designed to hold several important groups. It housed the Dominion Museum and the National Art Gallery of New Zealand. The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts also moved in. They had sold their land and given the money to the new museum. In return, they were given a place in the new building.
Changes Over Time
In 1972, another law changed the Dominion Museum's name. It became known as the National Museum.
Later, in 1992, a new law brought two big institutions together. The National Museum and the National Art Gallery joined forces. They formed a new, larger museum. This new museum is called the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Museum in Movies
The Dominion Museum building has even appeared in movies! It was featured in two films by famous directors.
- It was in Peter Jackson's 1996 film The Frighteners.
- It also appeared in Peter Webber's 2012 film Emperor.
Images for kids
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Colonial Museum 1865–1907, Dominion Museum 1908–1936. Museum Street, Thorndon now Pipitea. Prefabricated in Dunedin in 1865
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The museum on Mount Cook
