www.mercurybaymuseum.co.nz

The display of Maori artefacts is limited by space in the present building and is a major consideration in the plans for the new Mercury Bay Museum Redevelopment project. Ngati Hei will be an integral part of the project and it is expected that several items of major national and local significance will return to Mercury Bay for display in the museum.
www.mercurybaymuseum.co.nz

The display of Maori artefacts is limited by space in the present building and is a major consideration in the plans for the new Mercury Bay Museum Redevelopment project. Ngati Hei will be an integral part of the project and it is expected that several items of major national and local significance will return to Mercury Bay for display in the museum.
Mercury Bay Historical Society are delighted to announce the launch of the long-awaited redevelopment of Mercury Bay Museum.

History -

The Historical Society was formed in the mid-70's and was incorporated in 1977. The Whitianga Lions Club had begun a Lions Project in 1971 and had raised sufficient funding by 1978 to purchase the Mercury Bay Dairy Factory Building. The land and buildings were officially transferred by deed of trust to Thames Coromandel District Council (TCDC) in perpetuity and forever to be used as a museum. The museum opened in 1979 and has continued operation ever since.

The Historical Society operates and manages the museum on behalf of the community and the museum is staffed by volunteers on a rota basis.

With over 6000 visitors per annum, the museum is the most visited on the Coromandel Peninsula.

The Current project is the culmination of discussions over the years on how to best present the ever-growing collection of local and national significance.

The display of Maori artefacts is limited by space and is a major consideration in the plans. Ngati Hei will be an integral part of the project and it is expected that several items of major national and local significance will return to Mercury Bay for display in the museum.

Significant collections relating to Captain Cook's arrival, the Kauri and Gum industries and Gold mining, along with industrial and social history displays are held by the Society and the project will enable them to be displayed in a manner that befits their role in NZ history.

The New Building - The design is in the concept phase at present, but we can give an overview of the preferred solution.

Using the existing ex-dairy factory as the heart of the new building, it is intended to add a second level to the building as well as increasing the footprint of the building within the existing Museum property.

The frontage will be a work of art in its own right, with carved representations the Sterns of Cook's Ship and Kupe's Waka.
Views over Mercury Bay and the harbour will be the backdrop for a proposed performance and touring exhibition space on the upper level.

The existing museum is very popular with visitors at present, and the design brief will ensure that the new design will retain the local, hands-on feel of the museum whilst ensuring that the collections are presented in the most accessible and state of art manner possible.

Regular updates will be posted on the project website - www.mercurybaymuseum.co.nz

LDPS NZ LTD, NZ's leading museum technical consultants have been appointed as Project Directors by the society and will undertake the day-to-day control of the project. www.ldps.co.nz

3D Creative, fresh from international acclaim for their work on Puke Ariki in New Plymouth, have been appointed to assist with the project strategy development.

Marty and Willow Lampard, owners of Whitianga's new high-tech internet cafe Inter-Earth www.interearth.co.nz , have offered to maintain the new website as their initial contribution to the project and the project team are very grateful

Further information, graphics etc on the project can be obtained from:

Grant Collie
Project Director
c/o LDPS NZ LTD
PO Box 302
Whitianga
Tel 07 866 4615 Fax 07 866 5137
e-mail project@mercurybaymuseum.co.nz

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Quotes.

C.E. (Gene) Horne - President of Mercury Bay Historical Society.
"I am delighted that our Historical Society have approved LDPS NZ Ltd to undertake our proposed development of the Mercury Bay Museum and to have Grant Collie as Project Manager. I'm sure we will all work very well together.

Our History in this place goes back some 900 yrs. to the arrival of Kupe, Capt. Cook (1769) and then settlers (1830s) then followed Mining, Kauri and Gum, Shipping and Farming, to the thriving place it is today.

We need to keep our History alive and what better way can we do it by having a world class Museum to display it. The Soc. has wonderful support from a large No. of organisations and members, with the support of Mercury Bay community we can have a regional museum to be proud "

Carl Muir - Events and Development Manager, Tourism Coromandel
"In comparison to other regions around New Zealand, The Coromandel has such a rich history, one that has helped to shape who we are as a nation.

Along with our stunning landscape, visitors to the area come to hear, touch, look and feel at the stories about our past, present and future. Projects like the Mercury Bay Museum upgrade and other heritage related projects planned for the region are essential not only to preserve our heritage but are a key to the economic growth of our region. They will act as a drawcard that encourages people to stay longer and do more when they come to The Coromandel."

Sam Doyle - Director, 3D Creative
"3D Creative are delighted to have been invited to join the redevelopment project for the Mercury Bay Museum. Regional museums are the lifeblood of cultural heritage in small town New Zealand. Without them, local history, local genealogy and local pride can be lost forever.

Whitianga is seizing the opportunity to develop a regionally significant cultural heritage centre and 3D Creative are proud to be involved. What Puke Ariki has done for local pride in New Plymouth, Mercury Bay Regional Museum will do for Whitianga.

A redeveloped Mercury Bay Museum will provide a launching pad for visitors, giving them a context for their explorations and enabling them to see the area through new eyes,. It will give locals a stronger sense of identity, and celebrate their shared past. It gives local schools a way to bring history alive, and increases educational opportunities for local families

3D Creative congratulates the Mercury Bay Historical Society on their commitment and vision, and look forward to bringing that vision to fruition.

Grant Collie - Project Director
" We are delighted to be working on such an exciting project in our home base, and will be bringing many of the skills and lessons we have learned on projects around the world to bear on the museum that my children will visit on a regular basis. Mercury Bay Historical Society have shown great vision in attempting to fast-track this project, which will ensure that the community will have a world class facility in the shortest timeframe"