Lakes District Museum

The Lakes District Museum was established in 1948 as a Centennial of Otago project. Appropriately set in the former gold mining town of Arrowtown, the museum started life in the billiard rooms of the Ballarat Hotel before shifting to their current home, the former Bank of New Zealand building, in 1955. Over the last 60 years, through innovative direction, the museum is now recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading small museums.

The Lakes District Museum is much more than a museum in the conventional sense; hence its popularity with local residents and visitors from all around the world. The museum has a strong hands-on focus, presenting an authentic picture of early Maori life and the harsh pioneering days of the European settlers and goldminers through working displays covering two floors and incorporating three historic buildings.

The museum also houses an art gallery, bookshop, archives and research facility and a busy education programme.