About Us
The Museum was built by descendants for the centennial celebrations in 1953. Descendants worked on the building and donated materials.
It was built in stone to resemble the old Highland crofts which had featured in the landscapes of their homelands.
Descendants brought historic records and items of clothing and furniture to be stored in the new building, which they named “The House of Memories”.
In 1981 Betty Powell took over the day to day running of the Museum and continued the tasks of both genealogy and story gathering.
She was massively admired by the huge numbers of descendants with whom she corresponded until her death in 2011. Her death was a sad milestone in the history of Waipu as along with her passing went much of the knowledge she had never put in writing. Nevertheless, a great team of genealogists and researchers continue her work so the business of Waipu’s story both past and present is in great hands!
The 150 year celebrations in 2003 saw a modern extension added to The House of Memories for the safer housing of the collection.
In 2008 a new exhibition was established, largely inspired by the 2003 Grand Pageant which had “opened everybody’s eyes” to the tremendous emotive power of the migration story.
Over the past years, the Waipu Scottish Migration Museum has made remarkable strides in preserving and sharing the rich history of the region. Among its many accomplishments:
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Transformed a quaint “granny’s attic” into a vibrant, modern storytelling museum.
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Restored Waipu’s historic Old Manse to its former glory.
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Rescued and acquired two additional heritage buildings, preserving vital links to the past.
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Produced numerous theatrical performances and fundraising events that bring history to life.
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Twice named a finalist in the prestigious Museums Aotearoa National Awards.
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Honoured with the UNESCO Memory of the World Award for its outstanding collection of historical photographs and documents.
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Created a moving village exhibition to commemorate Waipu’s role in the Great War.
- Added six new storyboards to enrich its narrative, offering a deeper insight into the Māori history of the district prior to European settlement.
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Revitalised its public image with a modernised logo, updated road signage, and refreshed brochures.
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Installed new carpeting throughout the museum, enhancing the visitor experience.
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Erected informative storyboards at key locations including the Heritage Precinct, Waipu Cycleway, and River Walk.
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Reprinted the much-loved Gael Fares Forth, offering an engaging overview of Waipu’s unique migration story.
