Warkworth & District Museum

29/05/2026

Looking for something to do with the family this King's Birthday weekend? 👑🌿 Warkworth Museum is open every day of the long weekend and is a great day out for all ages. Little ones get a fun worksheet to complete as they explore — from kauri logging to the stories of the people who built this community, there is something for everyone. And when you're done, step outside into the beautiful Parry Kauri Park for a bush walk among magnificent native trees.
Open daily 10am–3pm.
Adults $12 | Children (6–16) $5 | Under 6 free | Family $25.
📍 Tudor Collins Drive, Warkworth.

We look forward to you visiting us !!

25/05/2026

Here is another axe in our collection — and this one comes with a story worth reading. "Alf Clements bought it in Civils store in Warkworth in 1928. One of a number he took on his job up north. I think it took him about fourteen days on the road from his home at Kaipara with the team of twenty eight bullocks and the do***ng wagon. He went up Smyth Road and out onto the dome, then towards Maungateroto and up Dr Hill road, Waipu Gorge Road, through Whangarei on the 2nd of December 1929, arrived at his job at Wai Wehewehe gorge Maromaku on the 6th December. Then came back two years later. That axe did the round trip and with others, used up til we were working his last timer bill. I helped him set up at his home in 1947. He broke the handle one day and gave me the head to keep to mount on a board for the nearest museum to his old home. I used the Axe a bit myself then mounted it on a piece of mottle kauri board. Alf Clements was very strong in the arms and was always breaking axe handles".

- Alf Mabbet

22/05/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Don't just take our word for it. Here's what one Tripadvisor visitor had to say: "Volunteers have done a wonderful job setting it up to showcase early life in New Zealand. They have a wonderful collection of old clothes, with the displays regularly changed." And another added: "Great place to go to see what it is that makes Warkworth the place it is. Brilliant array of historical information that relates to the real history of the local area. Superbly helpful and knowledgeable people who work there too."

And to top it off, don't miss our shop — packed with gifts, souvenirs, and locally made treasures, it's the perfect place to find something to take home.

Come and see for yourself. Open daily 10am–3pm. Adults $12 | Children (6–16) $5 | Under 6 free | Family $25. 📍 Parry Kauri Park, Tudor Collins Drive.

18/05/2026

11/05/2026

Hat Pins – Small Objects, Big Stories!!

In our textiles collection, we have boxes of hat pins—once an everyday essential for women’s fashion.

When hats were large, decorative, and worn everywhere, hat pins helped secure them in place (and added a touch of style too!). Women often had collections displayed on dressing table cushions.

As fashion changed through the 20th century, hats became smaller and more casual, and hat pins gradually disappeared—especially after the 1960s when everyday hat-wearing faded from fashion altogether.

Today, they’re mostly a memory of a time when leaving the house meant dressing with care: hat, gloves, and stockings included.

08/05/2026

Step into the Stories of Warkworth

Looking for a weekend adventure close to home? Come and explore Warkworth Museum, where the history of our town and surrounding region comes to life.

🏡 Wander through displays that share the stories of early settlers, Māori taonga, and everyday life in times gone by.

🌳 Stroll afterwards through the stunning Parry Kauri Park, right on our doorstep, and meet the majestic giant kauri trees.

👧🧒 With family-friendly activities, there’s something to spark curiosity for all ages.
📍 Just minutes from Warkworth township – the perfect outing for locals, families, and visitors alike.

Open daily 10am - 3pm
Entry: $12 adult, $5 child or $25 family

👉 Plan your visit this week and discover something new about the place we call home.

05/05/2026

Did you know that in 1940, W T “Wally” Johnston wrote to the Warkworth Town Board asking permission to use the town’s old brass instruments—many of which had been funded and used by the earlier band decades before—to start a Boys Brass Band?

He also placed adverts in the local paper calling for anyone interested to join. Among the first to respond were bass drummer Tommy Ramsbottom and Bill Dennis.

Wally collected together as many of the old “ancient relics” as he could find. Recruits met in his small garage, were each handed an instrument, shown the basics, and sent home each week to clean and practise before returning for lessons.

Join Dianne Morgan this Friday in exploring the rich history of the Warkworth Brass Band and its role in the social and cultural life of our town.

10am
Warkworth Museum
$15 entrance

Bookings essential: [email protected]

01/05/2026

This amazing photograph from the Museum collection shows members of the Warkworth Brass Band in 1895–1896—but the story behind the band goes even further back than many realise…

Thanks to museum archives, historic newspapers, and community memories, we know the Warkworth Brass Band was officially inaugurated in September 1893. Early rehearsals were led by visiting Auckland bandmaster Mr Hunter, who travelled by steamship just once a month, with local musicians stepping in between visits to keep the music alive. The band quickly became a vital part of community life—performing at agricultural shows, fundraising concerts, church events, and even charity efforts for local families in need.

But who were these early players—and how did music shape life in Warkworth?

Join us to discover the full story behind this photograph and the early years of the band.

📅 Friday 8 May
🕙 10am
📍 Warkworth Museum
$15 entrance

🎟 Bookings essential: [email protected]

Come uncover the sounds, stories, and people behind one of Warkworth’s earliest musical traditions.

28/04/2026

A Piece of St Columba’s History Lives On

Did you know the Museum holds several special items from St Columba's Church, collected after the 1987 alterations?

Among them are a kauri wedge with a handmade nail, the H & T Vaughan door lock, a porch shingle, and a unique stamp bowl made by Ken McInnes — a long-time supporter of the Museum.

Out front of the museum, you’ll also find the large bell from St Columba’s belfry, now proudly mounted in our bell tower. Interestingly, this bell replaced a smaller brass bell that originally hung there. During renovations, the two were swapped after the cast iron bell at St Columba’s caused vibrations throughout the church when rung!

These objects help tell the story of our local community and its changing spaces over time.

Do you (or your family) have any items or memories connected to St Columba's Church or other local landmarks? We’d love to hear from you — share in the comments or get in touch!

24/04/2026

🌺 ANZAC Day Opening Hours Reminder 🌺

We will be closed this morning (Saturday 25th April) and will open from 1pm.

From then on, we’ll be open daily from 10am – 3pm.

If you’re visiting this weekend, we invite you to make a poppy and add it to our remembrance wall alongside those already created by the children from Happy Kiddy Kindy.

Lest we forget