Rotorua Library: Happy 50th Birthday to the Rotorua Museum

Fifty Years in the Bath House

The building : a few facts

Bath House designed by Arthur S Wohlmann. Inspector of Works Mr. B.S. Corlett., J.W. Wrigley (Rotorua Architect) and W.J. Trigg (Draughtsman) were responsible for the plans c.1903

Building commenced January 1906; Official opening 13 August 1908 by Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward. The extra wings originally on the plan were not added at this time.

Photo taken by Alison Leigh 2013.

The building was not kept in its original state due to lack of funding and eventually by the late 1940s the ‘Bath House’ was in a very bad state and the local Borough Council lobbied the Department of Health to do something about it. BAY OF PLENTY BEACON, VOLUME 12, ISSUE 98, 22 SEPTEMBER 1948 click this link to see what was being said.

From : Rotorua Photo News, 6 June 1964, p.2

Health Department handover to Rotorua City Council would eventually include 2.5 acres to build the Sportsdrome on and a sum of £60,000 to be spread over 3 years from 1963.
In 1964 the Sportsdrome was built and connected to the Bath House via an elevated walkway.

The Museum

The City Engineer reports that the south wing is structurally sound and suitable for a Museum.
https://www.rotoruamuseum.co.nz/visit-us/taking-the-cure/a-brief-chronology/
The name “Tudor Towers” is adopted for the building. c.1964

In April 1967 Council approved the plan to convert the South Wing into a Museum.
Mostyn Thompson was invited to be the Museum’s establishing curator/preparator with Don Stafford appointed permanently to that position September 1968. The Museum was officially opened 1st November 1969. A mezzanine floor was introduced a this time and is where the “Colonial Display Rooms” were staged.
Don Stafford resigns as curator and Ian Rockel is appointed as his replacement. DP 14^th July 1970.
Named “City of Rotorua Museum & Arts Centre” 1970
New Art Gallery opens in the north wing October 1977.
Renamed “The Rotorua Museum & Art Gallery” 1979.

In 1980 the recreated basement mud bath was closed due to vandalism.
An extension of the ‘Tudor Towers’ building is approved in 1981. DP 27^th May 1981.
In 1982 the ‘South Centennial Wing’ is recommended. After many alterations and replacements later the exterior extension was completed 1983. Official opening/naming DP 23 May 1983.
The name ‘Tudor Towers’ to be dropped in favour of “The Bath House Art & History Museum” DP 21 June 1983.
The Centennial Wing is redesigned and named the Te Arawa Wing. DP 29 May 1987.

The Tudor Towers lease expires 2 Sept 1990, this presented an opportunity to redevelop the Bath House.
In 1992 ‘The legacy of Houmaitawhiti’ exhibition is opened.
In 1993 a Conservation Plan for the Bath House is commissioned.
In 1994 a new name is adopted “The Rotorua Art & History Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa”

In 2006 The Centennial Project Stage I is completed with the reopening of the viewing platform.
In 2008 The Centennial Project Stage II is completed with the north wing extension opened.
In Sept 2011 The Centennial Project Stage III is completed and named the Don Stafford Wing. DP 3 Sept 2011.

‘Rotorua Museum to remain closed following detailed assessment’ DP 7 July 2017
“A comprehensive assessment of Rotorua Museum has shown it falls well below earthquake safety standards and will need to remain closed for the foreseeable future.
The good news is that it can be fixed. How that happens, how long it will take and how much it will cost now needs to be determined.”

The Future :

Sources

‘Bath House, Rotorua: conservation plan’ by Works Consultancy Services Ltd. c.1993
www.rotoruamuseum.co.nz
'Taking the waters: early spas in NZ' / Ian Rockel c.1986
'Rotorua Museum: Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa: Strengthening, restoration and redevelopment'
'Rotorua Daily Post'

This Blog post is by Alison.