Cambridge Museum and Historical Society

05/06/2026

Look familiar? This photograph captures The Tremors in 1965, part of a vibrant local music scene that had teenagers flocking to the Buffalo Hall in town.

Perhaps you saw them perform, danced to their music, or have a story to share.

Lead singer David Stone visited the Museum to see our new exhibition, Tune In: Our Sounds, Our Place. During his visit, he was interviewed by Mary Anne Gill for Waikato Business News Link in comments

David also shared his memories with Andrew Johnstone for the Voices of Cambridge oral history archive, helping to preserve an important chapter of our town's musical heritage.

Pop in and see the display for yourself.

04/06/2026

Want to hear more? Visit Cambridge Museum and listen to extracts from Jim Watson's diary on our oral history switchboard. His remarkable story offers a fascinating glimpse into the experiences of a Waikato soldier during the First World War.

And while you are at it, be sure to check out our article in the Cambridge News to discover more of the story behind this intriguing object.

04/06/2026

Another mystery object but what is it, and what does it reveal about Cambridge's past? Comment below with your best guess.

Need a clue? Check out our Backchat article on page 14 of this week's Cambridge News NZ, kindly supported by U3A Cambridge.

The answer will be revealed on Friday.

31/05/2026

Congratulations to the team behind the latest edition of Love Cambridge.

We are fortunate to have a publication dedicated to celebrating the people, places, events, and stories that make Cambridge such a special community.

If you have not picked up a copy yet, pop into Cambridge Museum and grab one. Read it yourself, pass it on to a friend, leave it in the lunchroom, or share it with visitors. The more people who discover local stories, the better.

And yes, if you happen to turn to pages 20–21, you will find a feature on some of the photographs in our Collection.

Free copies available now at the Museum.

22/05/2026

Not quite a music box! 🎶

A lot of people guessed this cylinder would have used pins to strike metal notes, like a traditional music box. In fact, the raised sections on the cylinder were designed to move the bellows inside an organ, pushing air through the instrument to create music.

A reminder that before Spotify, music often depended on clever mechanical engineering.

21/05/2026

What is Karen showing you today? 👀

Any guesses what it is and what it was used for? Pop your answers in the comments and we will reveal more tomorrow.

21/05/2026

A curious little detail from an old photograph of the Cambridge Town Hall 👀

Look closely along the Queen Street side. Those attached offices… were they really there, or has someone been a little creative with AI?

What do you think? And does anyone remember these rooms if they did exist?

15/05/2026

And the answer is ...

Sorry for the sound quality on this one, our mic ran out of power. We're still learning the tech!

15/05/2026

A great little piece from Mary Anne Gill at Cambridge News NZ celebrating how a sign has helped put Bruntwood back on the map.

From the old dairy factory and railway siding to the crossroads so many locals still know well, this is the kind of local history that shapes our district.

At a busy rural crossroads north of Cambridge, a simple wooden sign has quietly put Bruntwood back on the map. The sign – made by Andy MacDonald of Black Dog Furniture – sits where Pickering,...

14/05/2026

A 121-year-old leaf.

But why would someone save a single leaf in the first place?

Our latest reel explores another mystery object from the collection. This time, something far more fragile than a matchbox.

What do you think its story might be?
A romance? A note? A scientific specimen?

Post your guesses and theories below. We will reveal the answer tomorrow.