The South Canterbury Museum will mark a historic milestone this Labour Weekend, closing its doors at its current site for the final time on Labour Day, Monday 26 October, with a day of free family events celebrating 60 years of its iconic octagonal Pioneer Hall building.

The museum will open at 10am, with family activities running from 11am to 2pm. The building first opened to the public in December 1966, making the closing day a fitting opportunity to celebrate six decades as a much-loved community facility.

The museum will close to the public at 4.30pm, and invited guests will attend an evening event to formally mark the end of an era on its current site.

The closure will allow the museum team to focus on dismantling the ground floor exhibition areas, following the closure of the mezzanine floor displays in late July. Collection objects will be carefully checked and prepared for their new home in the South Canterbury Heritage gallery at the new Te Kura Marumaru South Canterbury Museum, currently under construction on Barnard Street. Many objects will need new mounts and display preparation before the move.

The team will use the six-month closure period to prepare for the relocation, with a target opening date, at the new site, of April 2027.

Museum Director Philip Howe says the team is looking forward to what lies ahead.
“The museum team has been working hard on planning and design for all aspects of the new museum and its operations over the last 18 months. Although a huge amount of work remains, we are excited about the result and look forward to opening the doors of Te Kura Marumaru South Canterbury Museum in 2027.”

Mr Howe is encouraging the community to join the closing day celebrations.
“We are grateful to everyone who has continued to visit us or take part in our programmes over the last few months as the current museum has been winding down. We hope people will join us at Labour Weekend to mark the closure of the current museum and celebrate the 60 years the building has served as a public facility.”