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South Canterbury Museum

The South Canterbury Museum has a focus on the natural heritage and history of the South Canterbury region of New Zealand – land, life and people.

Explore Our Heritage

We collect specimens, artifacts, images, documents and information that can be used to explore the region’s heritage.

Extensive collections are housed in a purpose-built wing where they are catalogued and stored. These collections provide the raw materials for our exhibitions, education programmes, research and other activities.

Work is carried out by a dedicated team of people including fulltime and part-time staff, volunteers and interns. To find out more about our work download our Guide to the Work of the South Canterbury Museum (below).

A Regional Focus

The South Canterbury Museum will build understanding and enjoyment of our region’s heritage, enhancing and strengthening our community and attracting visitors to our region. The Museum will be:

  • a safe repository for important aspects of local heritage
  • a vital heritage resource for research and education
  • a dynamic community service
  • an engaging visitor destination

that everyone can use to explore, celebrate and enjoy our region’s heritage: nature, history, culture.

The South Canterbury Museum has a geographical focus on the natural and human heritage of the South Canterbury region – from the Rangitata River in the north to the Waitaki River in the south, and from the sea to the Southern Alps. This provides a focus for the over-arching themes of land, life and people: the nature, history and cultures of South Canterbury.

The South Canterbury Museum is owned and administered by the Timaru District Council and originally established by the South Canterbury Historical Society on a site bequeathed by T.D.Burnett in 1941.

Visit:

  • Location:
    Perth Street, Downtown Timaru, New Zealand
  • Hours:
    Monday: Closed (except public & school holidays)
    Tue – Fri: 10.00am – 4.30pm
    Sat &Sun: 1.00pm – 4.30pm
    Public Holidays: 1.00pm – 4.30pm
    Cruise Ship Days: Open extra hours

Accessibilty:

  • Please note there is level access with a small visitor car park including a mobility park behind the Museum, off Church Street on St Mary’s Lane.
  • Level access is available from the footpath on Church Street.
  • Certified service animals are welcome.
  • A wheelchair is available from reception. Please ask us if required!
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