The Collection

The Museum Collection is the premier maritime research collection in New Zealand and is of national and international significance.

The Collection was established with archive material from the Wellington Harbour Board, the body responsible for opening the Museum in 1972, and has continued to grow with private and institutional donors adding a wealth of fascinating and unique maritime material.

The Collection includes:

• A 19th century ship's cabin

• A 1930s ship's wheelhouse

• A complete lighthouse mechanism

• Working steam engines, both models and full size

• Over 100 ship models

• Specialist collections of navigational instruments and equipment, uniforms, flags and other textiles, medals, cutlery and crockery, tools, ships' bells, shipping company ephemera, shipwreck items and a Wahine collection.

• Original artworks and prints

• A photographic collection including prints, negatives and slides

• Film and videos

• Oral history recordings

• Maritime charts - a world wide coverage

• Maps and plans of Wellington city and harbour

• A library of maritime and local history books, maritime periodicals and journals

• Over 1,000 linear metres of archives, including the Union Steam Ship Company archives, Wellington Harbour Board archives, items from other maritime and shipping organisations and mariners' personal papers