Museum of Wellington City & Sea

Decades of civic pride were rewarded in 1999 when Wellington’s civic museum opened to the public. The Museum is dedicated to the preservation and study of Wellington’s rich social and cultural history.

Housed in the iconic Bond Store on Wellington’s waterfront, the Museum provides a backdrop for the permanent display of the people and events that have made Wellington what it is today.

The Museum’s atmosphere is thick with history. The Bond Store dates back to 1892, when it was a cargo warehouse and head office of the Harbour Board. Careful restoration has preserved the building’s striking façade, as well as solid timber beams and the original flooring inside.

The latest technology is used to further stimulate your senses. Traditional displays sit along side interactive exhibits, holographs and a giant cinema screen that stretches the length and breadth of an entire wall, a feature unique in Australasia. Our collection includes up to 95,000 items.

Education is a strong focus. We have a dedicated service for schools that provides a wide range of age-appropriate tours and activities.

We are administered by the Wellington Museums Trust and have one mission: to preserve, promote and present the Capital’s abundant history.