Museum changes name to attract visitors

Dianne and Allan Estcourt with the new name. Photo / Stephen Parker

It is hoped a change in name will "refresh" a Rotorua museum and lead to more people discovering what it has to offer.

Te Amorangi Museum is changing its name to the Rotorua Settlers and Steam Museum. It will hold a special fun day on Sunday to launch the new name.

Secretary Dianne Estcourt said the museum would still fall under the Te Amorangi Trust but they hoped the name change would better reflect what the facility was about and help raise public awareness.

She said in the 46 years since the Te Amorangi Trust Board was formed, the museum on Robinson Ave had intrigued thousands of people with an insight into the lives of early settlers in Rotorua.

They hoped the new name would better describe what was on offer, she said.

"We get people through now but we want more. A lot of people don't know about us, so we are refreshing it because the name will mean a lot more."

Mrs Estcourt said Sunday's special fun day would offer $2 entry with a variety of activities on offer for $2 including donkey and train rides.

Groups with an interest in the time period, such as the Lakes Falcons medieval club doing re-enactments and Creative Fibres group would also be there.

Details

* Started as a 133ha stud dairy farm

* Parts were sold off to various owners and the final owner left the remains of the property as a museum, which has developed over the past 46 years

* Restoration in 2000/01 of Douslin House. Other buildings such as the Whakarewarewa Post Office, Reporoa Post Office and original Rotorua jail were donated.

* Open Thursdays and Sundays, 10am-4pm