Ashburton Museum

12/09/2026

The “Mild Mustard Plasterer”

Joseph Ivess (1845 - 1919), owner of the first newspaper in town, The Ashburton Mail, earned the nickname “the mild mustard plasterer”, a slang phrase of the time which could mean a number of things: enthusiastic, a braggart, annoying or stylish. Perhaps Ivess encompassed all these qualities, as he certainly stimulated social life and civic interest in Ashburton, often with a sharp critique of his contemporaries....

11/09/2026

Don't forget to join us tomorrow for our talk with Trevor Cullimore about the Ashburton Clock Tower!

Trevor’s engineering expertise allowed the clock mechanism to be fitted at ground level in 1976. This talk will be a fantastic opportunity for visitors to ask Trevor questions about the clock’s installation and his role as its caretaker over the last 50 years.

Heritage Talk | Saturday 12 September, 1pm

10/09/2026

Te Wiki o te reo Māori is next week, and we have made some new flashcards to celebrate! 🎉

The artworks on these flashcards were designed by tamariki and rangatahi from our local schools who entered our recent competition.

Each flashcard displays a winning artwork alongside English and te reo Māori kupu. They are a fantastic way to learn some new vocab and practice your reo - this year's theme is te taiao, nature.

Pick up your free set of flashcards from our reception before or during Te Wiki o te reo Māori, 14 Sept - 20 Sept! Kia kaha te reo Māori ❤️

10/09/2026

Brown and orange… The 70s are back!

We’re busy installing Icon: 50 Years of the Ashburton Clock Tower before the opening talk on Saturday.

This exhibition explores the life of the clock before and after it was installed in the Ashburton Clock Tower.

Join us for a special talk with Trevor Cullimore on Saturday 12 September at 1pm to learn about how his engineering expertise allowed the clock mechanism to be fitted at ground level in 1976.

Heritage Talk | Saturday 12 September, 1pm

09/09/2026

If you missed our heritage talk with Ashburton Fire Museum, you're in luck!

You can now listen to the full talk on our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5qLh3zR3iE

Ngā mihi nui to the Ashburton Fire Museum for sharing their knowledge with us to celebrate the opening of Sharing Histories.

06/09/2026

Sharing Histories: Gifts of 2025-2026 presents a selection of objects, archives and photographs newly acquired in the last year.

Discover what items were assessed, accepted and preserved by our collections team throughout 2025 and 2026, including wedding dresses, 35mm film slides, radio transmitters, casket accessories, and more!

On display until 18 October.

05/09/2026

A history of crossing the Hakatere

The Rangitata, the Hakatere, and mighty Ō Rakaia: these rivers define us in more ways than one. They serve as geographical barriers and landmarks, denoting the northmost extent of the Whakatere Ashburton District, the transition from Ashburton to Tinwald, and the southern edge of this place we call home. The rivers provide for our wellbeing; water for irrigation is diverted from the Rangaitata River at Klondyke, whence it travels 67 kilometres northward, supplying water to two hydro-electric plants, before discharging into the Rakaia River at Highbank....

03/09/2026

Don't miss our heritage talk with Trevor Cullimore about the Ashburton Clock Tower! 🕰️⚙️

On Saturday 12 September at 1pm, join Social History Curator Louisa Hormann and Trevor Cullimore in a Q&A session to celebrate the opening of our new exhibition Icon: 50 Years of the Ashburton Clock Tower.

Trevor’s engineering expertise allowed the clock mechanism to be fitted at ground level in 1976. This talk will be a fantastic opportunity for visitors to ask Trevor questions about the clock’s installation and his role as its caretaker over the last 50 years.

Clock Tower Talk with Trevor Cullimore | Saturday 12 September, 1pm

31/08/2026

Anyone scared of heights...? 🕰️

In preparation for our upcoming exhibition Icon: 50 Years of the Ashburton Clock Tower, our Social History Curator Louisa and Collections Registrar Yashar got to climb up the Ashburton Clock Tower!

Hear more about the amazing mechanics behind the clock tower at our upcoming talk with Trevor Cullimore on Saturday 12 September at 1pm.

Trevor’s engineering expertise allowed the clock mechanism to be fitted at ground level in 1976. This talk will be a fantastic opportunity for visitors to ask Trevor questions about the clock’s installation and his role as its caretaker over the last 50 years.

Icon: 50 Years of the Ashburton Clock Tower will be on display from 12 September until 29 November 🕰️

Heritage Talk with Trevor Cullimore | Saturday 12 Sept, 1pm

29/08/2026

Tuppy’s Terpsichorean Troupe

Terpsichorean – adjective, formal/humorous: relating to dancing. In the 1920s, dancing was very much in vogue worldwide. Dance tuition for young ladies was considered valuable for the purposes of etiquette and how one carries themselves; in a 1922 column, the Guardian claimed that learning to dance imparted upon the student “the subtle art of performing natural acts gracefully.” “Entitled to the claim of brilliancy”...

Terpsichorean – adjective, formal/humorous: relating to dancing. In the 1920s, dancing was very much in vogue worldwide. Dance tuition for young ladies was considered valuable for the purposes of e…