The history of the Southland Museum and Art Gallery

The Southland Museum and Art Gallery closed its doors on 12 April, 2018 after an assessment found it did not meet National Building Standards and was considered an earthquake risk. It became clear significant work and cost would be needed to bring it to 67 percent of the standards – the minimum allowed for existing buildings.

We consulted with the community about the next steps. It was clear the museum was an integral part of Invercargill and people had strong feelings about its future.

In the 2021-2031 Long-term Plan, Council committed to investing $38.4 million into redeveloping the museum.

A Museum Governance Group was appointed in 2021 to determine the future of the museum. In 2022, Council considered whether it should strengthen the current building or develop a new museum. Following consultation with the community during the 2022/2023 Annual Plan process, Council agreed to demolish the Southland Museum and Art Gallery to make way for a new build, at the same site in Queens Park.

The future of the Southland Museum and Art Gallery

The new build is set to be completed by December 2025. This will be followed by an interior fit-out, before it is opened to the public in the second half of 2026.

We know our community has a strong connection to the existing pyramid building, and we will take this opportunity to capture the memories and feelings it evokes as part of the process to create a new facility.

It has been a big undertaking to get to this point, as we needed to take time to hear from experts, compare with other facilities, and listen to the voices of our community to ensure we get the best possible outcome for Invercargill.