History – Museum beginnings

The Warkworth area is growing quickly and with many new folk moving into the area I thought some history of our local museum might be of interest.

In the early 1970s, a group of locals including Jack Keys, a local teacher and historian, and Ken McInnes, a retired farmer, held a meeting in the Warkworth Town Hall to discuss the possibility of a museum to preserve the area’s rich history. There were still many descendants of early pioneers and settlers who were living in the area. Consequently, there were histories, stories and artefacts that needed a place to be stored where they could be accessed by future generations. This was to be ‘by the people for the people’ and many locals got behind the project physically, financially or by providing items for the museum, or all of the above. Many of those early volunteers are still involved some 50 years later – Burton, Jensen, Ferguson and Bartlett are among some 80 other volunteers who give their time and expertise.

By August 1977 reports, plans, fundraising and permission from Warkworth Town Council and Rodney District Council were at a stage where work could begin, with Ken McInnes as Clerk of Works. A giant earthworm was discovered by Jenny Ferguson as the first sods were turned and can be seen preserved in the Weird and Wonderful Collection at the museum.

On September 21, 1980 the first stage was opened by the patron, Norman Parry. This included what are now the reception area and the Wilson and Tudor Collins rooms. Three years later, stage two followed, with the two storey Parry Wing. The Founders Wing came next with an artefact store, workshop, special textile storage, archives and genealogy rooms, and the ASB foyer with its changing displays. This was opened in 1998 by the then Governor General, Sir Michael Hardie Boys.

By 2005, the outside village with its old Warkworth Jail, World War II US Army hut, old Mahurangi Heads Post Office, outhouse, telephone box and pillory was in place. By this time, a specialist computer system had been set up by Susan Simmons to be used for cataloguing and filing all the items in the museum’s collection. There were specialist areas where temperature and humidity could be controlled, and a large freezer used to kill insects in artefacts – borer, in particular. There was also a barn out the back where old machinery could be displayed and workshops for restoring and maintaining artefacts.

Today, we have a world-class museum on our doorstep, thanks to the vision and efforts of many. This dedication from Jack Key’s history of the area Mahurangi could just as easily apply to the museum he helped to start: “Dedicated in humility for those who have toiled for Warkworth. And with affection to the children whose hands all unaware hold her future.”