Middlemarch Museum
Tucked away on Aberafon Street is one of Middlemarch's best kept secrets. History buff or not, this fantastic little museum has a lot to offer.
Scenes from the past have been lovingly recreated behind a large bespoke wooden structure. In a town with a history rich in farming there is a number of horse-drawn implements.
A recent addition is a restored railway wagon detailing the significant contribution the Otago Central Railway made to the local community. This is illustrated by an elaborate timeline wrapped around all four walls.
An interesting item on show is the submarine Platypus, designed and built in 1873 by an enterprising fellow named R W Nuttall. Christened Platypus, It would sit at the bottom of rivers or streams, while prospecting would take place out of a hatch situated where the submarine touched the bottom. Financial problems led to the company going into receivership. The submarine ended up in four pieces on a Pukerangi sheep station, The Reefs, owned at the time by Bill Stewart. In 1991 Mr Stewart gave three of the pieces to the museum.
The Museum’s extensive photographic collection will be of interest to people retracing their family’s history. Also significant are the cemetery transcripts, death notices, obituaries and unique catalogue of newspaper articles about people who lived in or had association with the Strath Taieri.
- Learn more: Platypus Submarine Gold Dredge - A Brief History
- Learn about the history of Middlemarch Railway Station
Take a virtual tour as seen through the eyes of Mandy McGuire
This slideshow tells the story of Mandy McGuire's astonishing visit to the Middlemarch Museum. By Liz Keast, local storyteller.
Click here to see Liz' latest story: Let's tale Lizzie