Otago Peninsula Museum & Historical Society

Otago Peninsula Museum & Historical Society In 1986 the Museum was opened in its present site.
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The Otago Peninsula Museum was started by local people in 1974, with a small room in the Portobello Coronation Hall used to display photographs and historical items.

Tuesday at the Museum.From Victor Meldrews Phrase book "I dont Believe it!No-Mans land Steel screw pickets used in WW1• ...
02/06/2026

Tuesday at the Museum.
From Victor Meldrews Phrase book "I dont Believe it!

No-Mans land Steel screw pickets used in WW1
• A steel shaft with a corkscrew base
• Installed by twisting, not hammering → silent
• Had loops along the upper section to thread barbed wire through
• Allowed rapid, quiet construction of deep wire belts in No Man’s Land
• Became universal because they reduced casualties during night wiring parties
• Many are still found on French and Belgian farms today, reused as fence posts

Donated to our Museum by Mr Ally Campbell a regular volunteer.
The Museum is open Sundays 12.30 - 3.30pm

EARLY OTAGO PENINSULA.Broad Bay Boating Club (est. 1923) Founded by local families and holidaymakers, the club grew fro...
30/05/2026

EARLY OTAGO PENINSULA.

Broad Bay Boating Club (est. 1923)
Founded by local families and holidaymakers, the club grew from Broad Bay’s long boating tradition and early harbour regattas. Its first clubhouse stood on the old jetty, later rebuilt after storm damage. A new boathouse opened in the 1960s, becoming home to generations of sailors. Celebrating 100 years in 2023, the club remains a lively community hub on the Otago Harbour.
Photo taken about 1895 which pre dates the establishment of BBBC.
Andy Wilson developed and designed the Dolphin class yacht while involved with BBBC, an example of which is on display at Otago Peninsula Museum at Portobello.
(the colourizing of this photo adds additional depth over B and W)

Were open on Sundays 12.30 - 3.30pm

TUESDAY AT THE MUSEUM We discover many odd and usual things on our Tuesday volunteer sessions such as this Enterprise Ju...
26/05/2026

TUESDAY AT THE MUSEUM
We discover many odd and usual things on our Tuesday volunteer sessions such as this Enterprise Juice Press.
This is an Enterprise style cast iron fruit pulper/juice press, a late 19th to early 20th century American design widely copied and exported. It crushed apples, berries, and soft fruit before pressing, and became a staple of farm kitchens and small orchards.

Don't forget that the Otago Peninsula Museum, at Portobello, is open Sundays 12.30pm till 3.30pm

Tuesday at the Museum. Miller Smokeless Oil Heater Date: Early–Mid...
24/05/2026

Tuesday at the Museum.

Miller Smokeless Oil Heater
Date: Early–Mid 20th Century Material: Steel and cast-iron Origin: United States
This compact domestic heater used a wickless vaporizing burner to produce clean, steady warmth from kerosene without smoke or odour. Marketed as “smokeless,” it represented a leap in home heating efficiency before electric and gas systems became widespread. Its durable construction and enamel finish made it a trusted fixture in workshops and rural homes.
Just 1 of our many unusual exhibits from our past at the Otago Peninsula Museum.
We are open every Sunday 12.30 - 3.30pm.

EARLY OTAGO PENINSULA.( BACON ST JETTY)Another perspective of Turnbulls Bay (aka Smiths Bay) taken in late 1800's). Phot...
21/05/2026

EARLY OTAGO PENINSULA.( BACON ST JETTY)
Another perspective of Turnbulls Bay (aka Smiths Bay) taken in late 1800's). Photo taken by R Clark, colour version by T Hart. Possibly the Bacon families double ender boat out for a wee jaunt.

Early Otago Peninsula (Turnbulls Bay & Bacon St) Here is a early photo taken of Turnbulls Bay (It was originally known a...
16/05/2026

Early Otago Peninsula (Turnbulls Bay & Bacon St)
Here is a early photo taken of Turnbulls Bay (It was originally known as Smiths Bay).
Of note there's the original Jetty plus the small Cottage, that lies derelict and still stands on the corner of Portobello Rd and Bacon St.
Photo has been tidied up from original.

Tuesday at the Museum.Found a couple of photos featuring the old Otago Peninsula County Council, where one could vent th...
10/05/2026

Tuesday at the Museum.

Found a couple of photos featuring the old Otago Peninsula County Council, where one could vent their spleens to, before it was amalgamated into the present DCC and we had the present Community board as its replacement.
(photos on file at Otago Peninsula Museum and slightly cleaned up by Tom Hart volunteer)

Have Deer will travel. A lot of looks today as I transported our hoofed friend to be auctioned. Originally from Southlan...
24/02/2026

Have Deer will travel. A lot of looks today as I transported our hoofed friend to be auctioned. Originally from Southland it has a plaque which is registered with the Southland Acclimatization Society.

DEER, OH DEER, OH DEER!Today our 4 hoofed friend departed our Museum destined for a better place.Originally from Southla...
24/02/2026

DEER, OH DEER, OH DEER!
Today our 4 hoofed friend departed our Museum destined for a better place.
Originally from Southland it was registered with the Southland Acclimatization Soc. as being of significance.

Here’s an article posted by Shem Sutherland that will be of interest
28/12/2025

Here’s an article posted by Shem Sutherland that will be of interest

Address

17 Harrington Point Road, Portobello
Dunedin
9014

Opening Hours

12:30pm - 3:30pm

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