Southland Museum and Art Gallery, Art museum and cultural center in Invercargill, New Zealand
The Southland Museum and Art Gallery sits in a 27-meter-high pyramid-shaped building on Gala Street, holding regional artworks and historical objects. The collection spans both contemporary and older pieces, along with items that document the region's past.
The collection started in 1869 when Andrew McKenzie showed private objects before it moved to different locations over time. The building that visitors see today was erected in 1912 at its current site.
The Māori Gallery displays how people in Murihiku lived and worked in the past, with exhibits of handcrafted tools and fishing equipment that visitors can understand today. The space shows the practical role these items played in everyday life for the region's original inhabitants.
The main building remains closed for structural work, but visitors can view art exhibitions at Te Waka Tuia Art + Museum in the city center. This temporary location continues to show regional art collections.
The building has housed a tuatara breeding facility since 1974 with more than 50 of these rare reptiles, including Henry, who was probably born around 1900. This collection is one of the oldest of its kind and is cared for by specialists.
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