collections
about our Collections
The Collections have a Wellington history focus, including its civic, social, cultural, maritime and economic development. They have been established through the transferral of material from the Wellington Maritime Museum Trust, the Colonial Cottage Trust and the Cable Car Museum. READ MORE about our Collections
Plimmer's Ark
Beneath what is now a central city building, the remains of a sailing ship were uncovered in 1997. The remains were the hull sections of the 1848 sailing ship Inconstant which became a warehouse known as Plimmer's Ark. At two conservation sites the Plimmer’s Ark Project tells the story of the Inconstant - of Plimmer’s Ark and its owner John Plimmer - and shows the conservation of the timber remains of the Ark. READ MORE Plimmer's Ark
cataloguing
This is a systematic documentation of the museum’s vast Collections, recording the physical details and location of each object and then searching museum records to collate all relevant information. The Museum uses Vernon Systems (a computer-based object cataloguing system) to catalogue its objects, with the majority of work completed by our wonderful Museum volunteers. Find out about our current cataloguing projects. READ MORE cataloguing
research
Items in the Collections are available to other institutions for research purposes or for general public viewing. READ MORE research
resources
Find out more information on Wellington history with our fact sheets or view the entire exhibition archive. READ MORE resources
Cinerama Sign (on display at Museum of Wellington City & Sea)
In the battle with television for people’s time and money, moviemakers had size and colour on their side. Cinerama films were shown on huge wide curved screens by three overlapping projectors. On June 9 1966 the State Theatre in Courtenay Place was closed for a £50,000 renovation opening on August 19 1966 as the "Cinerama Theatre".
The opening film shown was, ‘It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad world’, a comedy that starred just about every known American comedian at the time. Unfortunately our Cinerama was more a marketing move than a great technological advance as the city was behind the times. There were already actual and well established Cineramas in Auckland and Christchurch but for Wellington 70mm film was projected on a curved screen to give audiences a bigger, brighter and better picture.
Eventually the cost proved far too great, Cinerama films were on the decline and the 65ft wide, 21ft tall screen caused many a patron to strain their neck. As a result the curved screen was removed in 1972 and replaced overnight with a wide but flat ordinary screen. The Cinerama Theatre had just reached its 21st birthday when it was closed and demolished in 1987.
This sign was salvaged by the NZ Film Archive at the time of its demolition. It required extensive renovation to bring it back to its former glory with the work generously carried out free of charge by Frampton Signs. It now hangs proudly on display at the Museum of Wellington City & Sea.