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Museum · Nelson, Nelson
Nelson Provincial Museum
Museum of the history of the Nelson and Tasman region, at the corner of Trafalgar and Hardy Street. Its roots lie in an institution created in 1841 by the first settlers; it houses the Tyree photographic collection, registered by UNESCO.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Nelson Provincial Museum
The Nelson Provincial Museum (Pupuri Taonga o Te Tai Ao) tells the story of the northern South Island: the Māori peoples of the region, the arrival of English settlers in 1841, life on farms, in mines and at ports, and the disasters and changes that shaped the area. Its origins lie in the literary and scientific institution founded by settlers in 1841, which opened a small museum on Trafalgar Street soon after.
The current building, at the corner of Trafalgar and Hardy Street, opened in 2005 on land that is part of the town’s original layout. Permanent displays mix objects, photographs and interactive features, and there are temporary exhibitions throughout the year.
The museum holds one of the country’s largest photographic archives. The Tyree studio collection, with more than 105,000 negatives, was added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World register for New Zealand in 2017. Most of the archive and researcher services are housed in the museum’s former building at Isel Park in the Stoke neighbourhood.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1 to 2 hours.
Best time
Any time of year, even on rainy days. Check opening hours before you go.
How to get there
It is at the corner of Trafalgar and Hardy Street in central Nelson, a few minutes’ walk from the cathedral.
Tip
Entry may be charged separately for non-local visitors; check the current fee. Combine it with the cathedral and Trafalgar Street in the same morning.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Nelson Provincial Museum
What is in the Nelson Provincial Museum?
Exhibitions on the history of the Nelson and Tasman region, from Māori peoples to the English colonization of 1841, as well as temporary displays and a large photographic collection.
Where is the Nelson Provincial Museum?
On the corner of Trafalgar Street and Hardy Street, in central Nelson.
What is the Tyree collection?
It is the archive of negatives from the Tyree photographic studio, with more than 105,000 images of the region, included in 2017 on UNESCO’s Memory of the World register for New Zealand.