Collections

A selection from the 65,000 items in the collections can be seen at Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Colonial Cottage Museum and Cable Car Museum.

The Collections were established through the transferral of material from the Wellington Maritime Museum Trust, the Colonial Cottage Trust and the Wellington Cable Car Museum. Collections development activities (such as donations, bequests and acquisitions) are focused on the history of Wellington including its social, cultural and economic development.

See NZ Museums for items from this and other museum collections around New Zealand. For information on an item in the collection send us a message. 

objects & Taonga The object collection is the largest part of the collection.  It includes the Paine collection of Mãori taonga, boats, communications equipment, furniture, lifesaving apparatus, machinery and tools, medals and coins, navigation equipment, ship fittings, ship models and tableware.

works of Art The artwork collection consists of over 1200 original works.  It includes works by maritime artists Frank Barnes, Jack Hobbs, Carl Laugesen, with both recognised and amateur artists represented.  Paintings include ship portraits, and harbour and wharf scenes dating from 1840 to the present day.  The artwork collection also includes works on eggs and feathers, embroideries and other media.

photographic IMAGES The image collection includes approximately 30,000 prints and 10,000 negatives, plus slides and transparencies, and photograph albums.  Film and videos are also included, covering subjects such as sail and steam ships, lighthouses and keepers, ports and seafaring personnel.

textiles The textile collection includes uniforms, flags and linens.  There are uniforms from transport and shipping companies, Wellington Harbour Board and various Navys.  Flags include signal flags, house flags and national flags.  Linens include monogrammed tablecloths, tea towels, sheets and pillowcases and towels from various shipping companies.

Ephemera Ephemera covers the printed material produced by businesses, shipping companies and other organisations. The collection includes ephemera such as brochures, menus, tickets, passenger lists and stationery.

Archives The collection archives include documents and papers that support and provide information about the collection such as plans,  maps and charts.