History – From house of memories to museum

Soon after the House of Memories opened in 1953, it was decided to build a small two-bedroomed home to accommodate a caretaker to manage the museum. Dick McKenzie was the founding curator, but first to occupy the small cottage was Mrs Daisy Ralph, who served this role for 20 years.

By the mid 1970’s, it became difficult to engage a caretaker and in 1978, Centennial Trust board member Trevor McKenzie was approached by local resident Betty Powell, enquiring why the museum wasn’t open all the time. Trevor’s response was, “If you want it opened, here are the keys!”

Betty took up the challenge and the responsibility of continuing to update previously gathered genealogy done for the 1953 Centennial. She worked tirelessly on this until her death 33 years later in 2011. Her vast knowledge of the migration was shared with John McLean for his book Sailors and Settlers, which was recently reprinted.

Computerisation came in the mid-1980’s under the supervision of Anne Picketts, and all the genealogical details of descendants were entered. These are continually updated by the Genealogy Team, and compared with the migration of the Mayflower expedition by a representative from the Church of the Latter days Saints in Salt Lake City. Both have global significance.

An extension was added to The House of Memories under the guidance of Peter Couper and David Craig. This was completed in time for the 150 year celebrations of migration in 2003. A museum shop opened and has been overseen by Barbara Russell for the past 22 years.

With the expansion of tourism interest in the migration story, under chairman Rod McKay, the board decided to employ a paid manager. In 2005, Patsy Montgomery took this role and alongside museum designer Chris Currie, they created an entertaining and visually inspiring depiction of the Nova Scotian migration. In 2010, this became one of three finalists in the Museum Aotearoa awards and, in 2016, it was awarded a UNESCO Memory of the World Inscription.

Volunteers over the years have enabled the museum not only to be opened daily but to continue to update its records. Today, numerous volunteers with various areas of expertise draw on a wealth of existing material and memories of older Waipuians.

Since 2003, the museum also provided the community with two Grand Pageants, Art ‘n Tartan spectacles, plus Music Halls and plays.

The current manager is Sandra McKay, the great granddaughter of D. R. McKay, who was the chairman of the Centennial Celebrations Committee which, from 1950, oversaw the building of the House of Memories that today is known as the Waipu Scottish Migration Museum.

Following on from our recent successful afternoon talks about Old Waipu, we plan another similar event in early October. Date to be advised nearer the time.