Dominion Museum building

The Dominion Museum building is a three-story structure on Mount Cook in Wellington featuring a central portico framed by square fluted pillars and exterior walls of Putaruru stone. The building displays classical architectural elements that reflect its design from the 1930s.

The building was completed in 1936, replacing the Colonial Museum as New Zealand's primary museum institution. It held this role until Te Papa opened in 1998 and became the nation's new major museum.

The building once housed major art collections and Maori objects that helped define New Zealand's cultural identity. Visitors could experience the nation's creative traditions through exhibitions that displayed both historical artifacts and contemporary works.

The building sits near Buckle Street and now operates as part of Massey University's Wellington Campus, so access may align with academic schedules and programming. Visitors should check ahead about which areas are open to the public, as it primarily serves educational purposes today.

During World War Two, authorities closed the building to the public and converted the entire space into a defense operations center. After the war ended, it returned to museum use but retained this wartime chapter as part of its history.

Location: Wellington City

Inception: 1936

Architects: Gummer and Ford

Address: 7 Buckle Street, Mt Cook, Wellington

GPS coordinates: -41.29950,174.77700

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:58