MILTON MUSEUM

A Brief History of the Tokomairiro Historical Society and Milton Museum

Milton Museum is currently housed in Milton’s old post office building which was built in 1938. The museum and information centre within is run entirely by volunteers and overseen by the Tokomairiro Historical Society and the Bruce Museum Trust.

1965 – 4 May. Inaugural meeting convened by Mrs E. M. Mein.

1966 – Historical booklet compiled to commemorate Milton Borough Centenary. Displays of relics and photographs of French barque “Marguerite Mirabaud” which was wrecked off Crystalls Beach in 1907 – the display opened at Grays Hotel after a re-enactment of the arrival of the French crew.

1966 – 22 September. Tokomairiro Historical Society Inc. formed.

1967 – 7 August. First public meeting of the society. Mrs E. Mein (President).

1968 – 23 April. Museum opened in rented shop on Union Street. It was owned by Miss Jean Littlejohn and opened in the presence of official guests – Mrs James Gray and Mr Edward Martin.

1969 – 14 October. Purchase of Marshall Property, 26 Shakespeare Street, Milton.

1978 – 14 November. Sale of Shakespeare Street property.

1978 – 12 October. Purchase of Y. R. Rattray & Son Building, 40 Union Street, Milton, finalised.

1979 – 13 October. Opening of new building as a permanent museum to preserve and display the History of the Tokomairiro District.

1998 – 7 November. Milton Museum moves to the old post office building on Union Street. Many of the features of the post office are still visible in the museum rooms and have been incorporated into the displays.

2024 – The museum and information centre continue to be housed within the old post office which has now had a new lick of orange paint on the exterior. The Tokomairiro Historical Society (President – Nancie Allison) convenes monthly to discuss ongoing concerns, etc.