Dear members and supporters!
There are so many good things happening that it is time to share a newsletter from your museum. The weather is so like Spring that we almost forget the squalls and rain expected in the next few months, but it is Autumn. You will again be impressed with Di’s window displays on the Fleet St corner. ANZAC Is remembered as always, with a strong recognition of women, in wartime nursing, and in the subsequent years. Then the changing seasons represented by heritage gardening and the changing colours of familiar falling leaves and flowers. We loaned some tools for display.
At the Museum we have welcomed many local visitors, those from throughout New Zealand, and visiting tourists. We are assured that each one finds something to enthuse about, and many contribute by sharing their stories. We have welcomed many students from our local Intermediate school in an organised visit, and next we have six classes from Belmont Primary visiting in May to learn from our local displays and stories. It is often the adults accompanying these local youngsters who find new enthusiasm for their community in what they learn from the visit. Language School classes, U3A a walking group, and a disability group have also been enthusiastic.
We continue to have the T shirts displayed representing the local campaign to avoid joining North Shore City, and later, Auckland Council. These are still relevant to support involvement in local decision making. Our school displays are still of interest to many. The latest addition for viewing is Chris’s fantastic restored heritage photos being projected on the gallery screen. Chris was a senior photographer for both major Auckland city newspapers. He brings a wealth of skills and enthusiasm to our team. Recent acquisitions have included a large residual collection from a local pharmacy family, and a display is being planned. We have again applied to be a part of the Auckland Heritage Festival, later the year, and our focus will be on the large group of Pasifika soldiers trained at Fort Takapuna for WW1. They are remembered on the photo boards at Narrow Neck.
Our next committee meeting at the end of this month includes decisions about cleaning down the building, putting the Titchener mural on the wall, and opportunities to work with the local business association and Flagstaff with advertising. We are also planning our AGM for Sunday 26 May. We are always interested in introducing enthusiastic people with the time to support leadership roles in the museum team, or as volunteers to open our doors to the public. Notable local, Geoff Chapple, has agreed to speak at the AGM with stories of his many experiences in Devonport, with Te Araroa trail, and elsewhere.
Thank you for all of your support for a successful local collection and celebration of our local stories.
Regards,
Alastair Fletcher
For Devonport Historical and Museum team.
April 2024
A clock with a Devonport heritage and a slideshow of re siting our building from 40 years ago.
The Museum was invited to help Eke Panuku, Auckland Council, to find appropriate homes for items left in the old Devonport Council Building before it was sold. The key item retrieved was the control clock which was used to manage the clocks in the building as well as some of the street clocks in the old Borough. Dennis Dowie, a member, has restored the clock and it now hangs in the museum, giving a ghostly clunk regularly! You will also notice some oak furniture and chairs we found museum uses for.
New on display is the slideshow above the relief land model showing the re siting of our building 40 years ago. In conjunction with the Heritage Rescue films playing in our gallery, this gives an excellent record of the efforts of members to bring the museum to what it is today.
Glass display and two videos now available at Devonport Museum.
Dear friends and supporters of Devonport Museum,
Long time Devonport resident Margaret Oldham has been collecting pressed, moulded, blown and studio glass since the 1970s. Thanks to her, Devonport Museum is now able to display a collection of commemorative glass. When you visit the gallery in the Museum you will find a description of the collection.
The Museum is also offering two videos for your interest: the Queen and Duke visit Devonport in 1953 and a current affairs documentary from the mid-1970s portraying local housing in Devonport.
The team at the Museum.