A packed public gallery of the Central Otago District Council last week highlighted the importance of museums to the area.

Representatives from several museum and heritage groups spoke passionately about the value and place of museums in each of their areas (Alexandra, Clyde, Roxburgh, Cromwell and Ranfurly).

Council has been reviewing the role of museums since 2020, and seeking to create a more coordinated approach to the telling of the Central Otago story through the museums’ activity.

Since districtisation came into effect several months ago, it changed the way museums would be funded.

Council needed to decide how it would support each of the museum entities, bearing in mind that museums were now funded district-wide along with the bulk of council’s services, and would move to district funding from July 1, 2025.

It was noted by most representatives the unknown future for the sector had put stress on volunteer committees and staff.

The historic Clyde museum redevelopment has been shelved. FILE SHOT

Dave Ritchie of the Central Otago Heritage Trust said museums were more than just places to visit, “they are vital community hubs’’.

Council group manager – community vision Dylan Rushbrook summarised how museums had been funded.

Annually, the museum sector received circa $220,000 in grant funding.

In the 2021 Long Term Plan (LTP) the majority of the community agreed council should take on the role of coordinating museum functions in Central Otago. 

After this, the Central Otago Museums Trust was established and had received ongoing support from council to support the five council or community board funded museums.

Staff provided councillors with all the options available for each site but did not make any recommendations.

After hearing the submitters at the meeting,Councillors voted to incorporate the following into the draft 2025-34 Long-term Plan (LTP):

• Funding the Central Otago Museum Trust, Teviot Valley Museum and Maniototo Early Settlers Museum with funding to come from Council.
• Continuing to operate the Alexandra Districts Museum Inc from Central Stories with funding to come from Council.
• Retaining the current Blyth Street Museum site on the existing terms; Funding the Cromwell Museum within the new Cromwell Memorial Hall complex with funding to come from Council.
• That staff explore property options around the Clyde Railway Station Reserve and the museum site in the Cromwell Mall for the Council’s consideration.
• That staff explore storage options for the museum sector.
• Stopping redevelopment of the Clyde Museum and removing funding from the 2025-34 LTP

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