About Us
Museum History
The Warkworth Museum celebrates its local identities and the surrounding community, so it is only fitting that the Museum itself came into being due to the drive, passion and commitment of the local community to remember their past. In the early 1970s a group of local history enthusiasts started the discussion about establishing a Museum with the aim of recording and preserving documents and artefacts from the Warkworth area and its surrounding district.
On 3 December 1973 a public meeting was held to gauge what level of support there was for the proposal to establish a Warkworth Museum and in August 1977, after an extensive fundraising effort, work commenced on the building of the Museum.
On 21 September 1980, the first part of the Warkworth Museum was opened to locals and the general public by its Patron, Mr. Norman Parry. When it first opened the Museum had a reception area, a small shop and two display areas and a storeroom. Over the years additions have been made to the building including the addition of the two storey Parry Wing which was officially opened on 18 September 1983.
Vision Statement
The Warkworth Museum’s Vision is:
To be a valued and engaging community Museum where residents and visitors encounter, explore and learn about the history of Warkworth and its surrounding district.
Mission Statement
The Mission Statement of the Warkworth Museum is:
To conserve and preserve the history of Warkworth and its surrounding district in order to educate and inform local, national and international visitors.
Objectives
The Warkworth Museum Society was established in 1980. Its current objectives are:
The preservation and display to the public of objects of local, historical and general interest.
Fostering interest in Warkworth, its surrounding districts and their histories.
Encouraging locally based arts and crafts.
To do all things as are incidental and conducive to the attainment of the above objectives.
Privacy Policy
Warkworth Museum respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. Please read our privacy policy here
Collections
The Warkworth Museum has an impressive collection of local history on display, thanks to the kind and generous donations from our local community.
Artefacts
Our artefacts collection comprises objects relevant to the early settlement and growth of Warkworth and its districts until today. It contains relics from the industries of the area such as timber felling and boat building, farming as well as domestic objects such as porcelain and musical instruments. The collection comprises artefacts gifted from people who have lived locally and also includes some items from Māori settlement.
Textiles
Our Textile Department has a large range of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel and household items. These items date as far back as the late 1700s and up to the present day. Fine needlework, hats, accessories and much more make up this large and significant collection.
Our team of textile volunteers take every care to make sure that these treasures are kept in optimum condition and they follow modern day conservation practices.
Machinery
Only open by appointment, the large shed located at the rear of the main Museum building which we refer to as the ‘Big Shed’ is home to our mechanical displays.
The museum has a number of farming items including a Boothmac hay baler, a 1920s rowcrop tractor, horse drawn farming implements such as a seed drill, hay tedders, fertilizer spreaders and a tipping cart with a Case bulldozer.
We have an impressive collection of engines which were used after the First World War. One engine which is in excellent condition and still runs today, pre dates 1914.
Archives and Research Centre
Our Archives and Research Centre may hold the answers to your family or local history questions. Amongst our popular sources are family histories, school admission registers, information relating to industrial histories of the area, church and cemetery records, journals and diaries, maps and photographs.
Research Requests
Explore a treasure trove of information in our archives and research centre, delving into a wide array of topics related to Warkworth and its surrounding district. If you’re eager to unearth specific details, our inquiry process is simple:
Email Your Request
Send your research request to warkworthmuseum@xtra.co.nz.
We’ll carefully review your request and inform you about the availability of items relevant to your interests.
Upon request, we can provide an estimated cost for conducting research on your behalf, including any necessary copying.
For a detailed list of charges, please contact the museum.
Visit by Appointment
Alternatively, you have the option to schedule an appointment to personally explore our archives and conduct research. See Visit Us.
Embark on a journey of discovery with the Warkworth Museum archives, where history comes to life.
Before providing copies of any material or photographs we will ask you to read our Reproduction Information sheet and agree to our terms and conditions.