Invercargill City Council’s Project 1225 includes a complete rebuild of our city’s museum.

The base build of Te Unua Museum of Southland will be officially opened to the public in late 2026, following the completion of both the base build and the interior experience fit-out.

• Through the 2021 – 2031 Long-term Plan consultation, the community told Invercargill City Council that reopening the museum was vital to the city. Councillors then considered the best options for the future: to refurbish the existing museum (which closed in 2018 due to earthquake risk), or to construct a completely new facility 

• In 2022, Council made the decision to invest in building a new museum, on the same site at Queens Park. At the same time, it decided to build a new specialist enclosure for the tuatara, as well as a dedicated museum collection storage facility. These three projects form Project 1225 

• The detailed design of Te Unua Museum of Southland was released in July 2024. This design, from ECI Contractor Naylor Love and Architectus, combines a focus on buildability and cost certainty, with a stunning and modern new facility 

• Te Unua Museum of Southland will feature an enhanced connection with the natural landscapes of Invercargill and Southland, including Queens Park. The design of the facility will also feature a striking double-hulled waka 

• Enhancements in the detailed design include a larger education space and first-floor terrace, additional shelter on the outdoor terrace, and more office and meeting spaces. The design of the cafe also has greater indoor-outdoor connection