Hokitika’s historical museum

Press, 15 June 1978, Page 26

Hokitika’s historical museum

Below, a visitor to the West Coast Historical Mu* seum, in Hokitika, stands in the pleasant central courtyard, which contains old gold-mining equipment. The courtyard is lined on three sides by a Covered-way which leads on the right to the Hall of Pioneers and the museum’s main entrance. On the left of the courtyard is the Drummond Hall with

old vehicles and larger exhibits. This last was named after Mr Bob Drummond, a former curator and ex-policeman, who was responsible for much of the early collecting and restoration of exhibits. Mr J. R. Eyles, the museum director, has lived on the West Coast for five years, and came to museum work through an interest in archaeology. He points out that the West Coast Museum has had three

homes, including the present one. First ft was housed In Revell Street; it was then moved to the Carnegie Library* but while there had to close down through lack of enthusiasm and funds, in 1945. The collection was dispersed when the library was taken over by the borough and used between 1960-73. In 1973, the present museum on Tancred Street was opened debt-free at a

cost of nearly $70,000. Many of the original pieces were restored to the museum and contributions are still coming ip “This is a human history collection,” says Mr Eyles, “from the Maori and his use of greenstone, to the discovery of gold, and beyond.” Especially popular with visitors to Hokitika, the museum has 20,000 people through each year.