Past Exhibitions

Take a trip through Ashburton’s cinema past in this special spring exhibition. Reel Life of Ashburton showcases the story of the past cinemas of Ashburton District, and the captivating stories surrounding them. This exhibition highlights what the movie theatre experience meant to so many people in the area, who enjoyed movies, plays, concerts, musicals and…

20 February 2020 – 26 April 2020 A unique Memorial, education and learning experience honouring the 1.5 million children killed during the Holocaust. To find out more about this exhibit, scroll back onour blog. Follow us on Facebook to learn more about what’s on at Ashburton Museum.

29 November 2019 – 9 February 2020 Bringing small town, Rural NZ and that Kiwi can-do attitude, Lynda and Jools Topp are among New Zealand’s best-loved entertainers. Whether it’s as Camp Mother and Camp Leader, the Gingham Sisters, Westie girls Raylene and Brenda, poshies Prue and Dilly, or the good Kiwi blokes Ken and Ken,…

20 September – 6 November An exhibition that will no doubt be close to the heart of many locals. Ashburton: Feels Like Home includes quirky and iconic items, images and videos that are a reminder of why this place is special to so many people. To find out more about this exhibit, scroll back on our…

Recycling is at the heart of this colourful and crafty exhibition. Quilts, clothes, and accessories galore! Ashburton’s homemade handiwork is on display, with items from the public, as well as Ashford’s and Eco Educate adorning our Murney Room and changing exhibition spaces. To find out more about this exhibit, scroll back on our blog. Follow us…

To find out more about this exhibit, scroll back on our blog. Follow us on Facebook to learn more about what’s on at Ashburton Museum.

March 2019 – June 2019 To find out more about this exhibit, scroll back on our blog. Follow us on Facebook to learn more about what’s on at Ashburton Museum.

Warm, fuzzy feelings were felt by all who visited this special exhibition, which showcased the fashions and the history of the nationally renowned Tekau knitwear company of Ashburton. The history of Tekau was conveyed through their diverse fashions and an interactive digital timeline. Over 800 visitors made their own custom designed beanies in the Project…

December 2018 – February 2019 Ashburton’s ties to the Chinese diaspora run deep, as seen in this exhibition about the Ng King Brothers family, market garden and businesses. Learn the inspiring story of one of Ashburton’s most respected families, the Ng Kings. Discover Ashburton’s Chinese heritage, and how their property on Allens Road grew into…

December 2018 – February 2019 A special kids exhibition about gardening and sustainability, where all the fruit and veges have been knitted by the community! Dig In Mahi Mara has transformed the museum into a fun, colourful indoor garden space complete with a wooden shed, planters, and more. It’s a great space to role play,…

Ashburton Museum honoured the 125th anniversary of universal women’s suffrage in New Zealand with this inspiring and personal exhibition. Women Power featured the contemporary stories of women working in non-traditional roles in the Ashburton District. We feel deeply about the historic struggle our women endured for the right to vote, this exhibition demonstrates the ongoing…

Bugs, Rust and Dust Bunnies focussed on the conservation and preservation of treasures/taonga, in both the museum and home. This exhibition was designed to guide people on the dos and don’ts of preserving precious objects and documents at home, from thinking about air humidity to pest control. Museum-wide activities and a series of workshops were…

Ongoing – an ever changing permanent exhibition. This object-rich exhibition is drawn from our nationally significant collection. It traces the history of the Ashburton region from nature, to taonga, to today. The story of New Zealand’s diverse cultural heritage is woven throughout. Interactive modules provide an engaging way to discover the history, heritage and natural…

From Radio New Zealand, this exhibition explored the history of radio in New Zealand, through Kiwiana radio designs made by Weta Workshop. Audio stations provided the soundtrack to one of our nation’s most fascinating stories. Radio sculptures from Weta Workshop depicted aspects of our beloved Kiwi culture ranged from a quirky caravan radio, the ‘fish…

By far one of our grooviest exhibitions, Meet you at the Radiant Hall told the story of what was once the hottest spots in town, the famous dance hall known as the Radiant Hall. The exhibition spanned the hall’s inception in the 1930s to its demolition in 1996, while focusing on Ashburton’s collective memory of…

Balls, Bullets & Boots: From the Rugby Field to the battlefield, told the unfolding stories of fourteen New Zealand rugby players who went to fight for King and Country in the Great War and one lady coach who inspired generations of players. The exhibition toured from the New Zealand Rugby Museum, Palmerston North. To find…

This fascinating installation centred on the pioneering photography of Frederick Cooper, a nineteenth century photographer. Hauling heavy photographic material to remote mountain regions, Cooper captured stunning images of the Southern Alps. His photography helped kick-start mountain and glacier tourism by bringing images of the beautiful South Island to people for the first time. Frederick Cooper’s…

This exhibition focused on our love of collections. It featured different types of collections and the stories of collectors with a passion for multiples. Thematic collections, such as the cat-themed collection of Adair Pethig, showcased the importance of collecting to people.   To find out more about this exhibit, scroll back on our blog  (link)…