Coaltown Museum Explained

Coaltown Museum is a museum of coalmining, located in Westport on the West Coast of New Zealand.^[1]

Building

The building housing the Coaltown Museum is located in a cultural hub on Palmerston Street.^[2] Designed by Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Brebner Team Architects, the building won two awards in the 2013 New Zealand Institute of Architects Nelson/Marlborough regional awards: the public architecture award and the Resene colour award.^[3]

Collection

The museum was opened in 2013, and holds displays on coal extraction and maritime history. The displays include an eight-ton coal wagon that was used at the Denniston mine; a simulated underground mine and a steam engine from the SS Mawhera. The museum also holds collections of photographs and objects related to mining on the West Coast.^[4]

References

-41.7541°N 171.5986°W

Notes and References

1. News: 2019-02-03 . World famous in New Zealand: Coaltown Museum, Westport . Pamela . Wade . 2020-09-06 . Stuff . en.
2. Web site: Westport Cultural Hub - Coaltown Museum. 2020-09-06. Coman Construction. en-US.
3. Web site: NZIA Nelson/Marlborough region awards announced. 2020-09-06. Architecture Now. en-AU.
4. Web site: Coaltown Museum on NZ Museums. 2020-09-06. eHive. en.