Otaki Museum facts for kids
The Otaki Museum is a cool place in Ōtaki, where you can learn all about the town's past! It's located in an old building that used to be a bank. The museum's main job is to keep and share the amazing stories and items from Ōtaki's history.
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A Look Back: The Museum's Home
The Otaki Museum is found at 49 Main Street in Ōtaki. It's a two-story building made of concrete. Inside, it has shiny wooden floors and special ceilings made of pressed metal. This building is quite old and important! It's even listed as a Category 2 historic place by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. This means it's a building with special historical value that needs to be protected.
The building was first built in 1918. It was designed for the Bank of New Zealand. A famous architect named John Mair helped design it. Later, in 1965, the local council bought the building. It became the offices for the Ōtaki Borough Council until 1989. That's when Ōtaki joined the Kāpiti Coast District Council.
How the Museum Started
In 2003, a group of people formed the Otaki Heritage Bank Preservation Trust. Their goal was to collect, keep, and share Ōtaki's history. They wanted to do this through different exhibitions. These shows would feature stories, pictures, and old items. The Trust officially became a charity on June 30, 2008.
The Kapiti Coast District Council then leased the old bank building to the Trust in 2003. Since then, the Otaki Museum has been open in this historic spot!
What You Can Find at the Museum
The Museum has many interesting things in its collections. These include:
- Records from local groups like the Ōtaki Borough Council, the Tennis Club, and the Swimming Club.
- Old documents and papers about the local area.
- The Small Collection.
- The Wallace Collection.
Otaki Historical Society
The Museum also keeps the records and collections of the Otaki Historical Society. This means even more history is kept safe there!
