Auckland 1866 officially closed on 28 September 2015. The gallery was a replica of a 19th century street showing business and residential premises as they appeared in the rapidly growing seaport town of Auckland in 1866.

Originally installed in 1967, this display showed business and residential premises as they might have appeared in the rapidly growing seaport town of Auckland.

The businesses displayed actually existed and were drawn from locations in Queen Street, Wellesley Street, Shortland Street, Customs Street (then Customs House Street) and Wyndham Street.

The shops and bars were furnished with merchandise typical of the period. Advertisements, timetables and prices of goods shown have all been taken from almanacs and newspapers of 1866.

• The objects of colonial Auckland

  The objects of colonial Auckland tell the stories of a very different city. Explore the gallery of Auckland 1866 to learn more about the objects of the period and those who created, traded, and used them.

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What's next?

East Gallery restoration

All of the 1600 collection items from Auckland 1866 will be conserved and cared for until the Museum can once again display them. The shop-front facades are replicas that are not part of the collection, but we will retain a number so that aspects of the history of former times can be reproduced. 

The East Gallery will now undergo restoration and preservation work, both on the exterior and interior. Once the space is ready the Museum will install a commemoration centre in which people will be able to share knowledge and to learn about the human contributions to New Zealand’s war history.

Learn more