Petone Settlers Museum

The Petone Settlers Museum is housed in a building on the foreshore at Petone and tells the story of how communities developed in the Wellington region. The exhibitions cover early settlement, daily life, and the relationships between European arrivals and the existing Māori population.

The building was constructed in 1940 to commemorate 100 years since the founding of Wellington Province and originally served as a bathing pavilion. In 1977 it transitioned into a museum to preserve the story of local settlement.

The museum presents how European settlers and Te Āti Awa people established their communities along the shore and shaped daily life in the area. Visitors see how both groups used the waterfront and what this place meant to them through objects and stories on display.

The museum is located right on the waterfront and is accessible on foot, with parking available nearby for those arriving by car. Visitors should allow time to explore the exhibits at a comfortable pace and gain insight into the area's past.

A stone replica of the prow of the ship Aurora adorns the building, marking the vessels that brought the first settlers to the area. This carved detail stands as an unusual artistic reminder of the region's maritime heritage.

Location: Lower Hutt City

Website: https://petonesettlers.org.nz

GPS coordinates: -41.22935,174.88022

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:41