Whangārei architectural, business history, lost through fire, age and development.

Remember the days of 35mm film and those plastic film tanks rattling around in drawers?

Wartime living and pandemic practices – rationing goods, baking staples, growing vege.

The taonga was treasured by the family until they gifted it to the museum in 1964.

It took until 1913 for New Zealand to produce locally refined barrels of oil.

Donated photos record a 1922 charity parade along tidy clay streets of central Whangārei.

Much like today, there were just a couple of taxi firms sharing Whangārei in the 1930s.

From the 1870s surveyors travelled the north mapping the region ahead of its development.

Ihaka te Tai's diary and maramataka are on display at Whangārei Museum during Matariki.

Celebrity chef endorsed Gregg's products for their convenience to the modern housewife.

Bulk purchasing helped families stay hydrated with enjoyable non-alcoholic beverages.

The theodolite has been dated to the 1940s-50s; probably a World War II surveying level.

William Lipscombe was quite young when he visited the NZ Centennial Exhibition in 1939.

The WWI belt travelled with its owner to New Zealand aboard the S.S. Ionic in 1926.

Clubs and weapons are on display at museum.

Gifts from visiting sportspeople can be a bridge between nations and cultures.

Can you add to the story of a hot air balloon flight in Whangārei?

Cameron Street was the hub of business activity in the first decade of the 1900s.

Elden De Witt sold enough kidney pills to make a $300 million fortune.

Turn of 20th century stapler a gracefully shaped metal instrument.

The 1870s to 1890s was a period of public institutionalisation of magic lanterns.

Josiah Martin's lantern slides are on show at Whangārei Museum's 'Magic Lanterna' display.

Magic lanterns ran alongside new film projectors until the talking movies of the 1920s.

Johann Strauss on the cover and musical notes floating above his image give strong clues.

Georgia Kerby: Sewing cases like this are referred to as an etui or a sewing necessaire.

Happy Families cards are at Whangārei Museum.

The sentiments felt speak of economic struggles during post-war years from 1950s to 60s.

Donor's mother Betty Taylor used the needles to sew uniforms for soldiers in World War II.

The Whangārei Freezing Company's first shipment was exported in 1912 by the SS Kumara.

Remember your mother's or gran's bedroom where the fundamentals of day-to-day life reside?

What will the hair setting techniques of today look like, 100 years from now?

Pandemics put the heat on officials to support education for students stuck at home.

Compared to World War II, our recent shared supply difficulties appear less severe.

This Willis pack was significant for its time, as the first brand of cards made in NZ.

History repeats - in 2020 we can support friends and families by buying 'locally made' .

Let's work together to preserve our heritage for the future, says Georgia Kerby.

Britons have used biscuit barrels to keep their homemade biscuits since the 18th century.

People still choose to filter their water and the need is an ongoing debate.

Stunning Victorian-era packaging when Mazawattee was the biggest tea brand in the world.

Grandeur of Marshall & Sons building contributed to our city's early architectural style.

Once opened a 'Fragrantly Perfumed' soap for creating a lather would have been revealed.

Next time you take a sip spare a thought for the heritage of your iconic Kiwi cup of tea.

Function and beauty combine in 1920s Nulli Secundus tape from UK stationery enterprise.

Mallets corner traced through historic photographs in Whangārei Museum's collection.

Whangārei's Bargain Stores was a general merchants shop selling on site or by mail order.

The ornate appearance of silver tea and coffee pots would have appealed to the owners.

Items donated include daggers, hats, baskets, pottery, bark cloth and even a python skin.

Whangārei Museum exhibition examines underwear

A family cooking dinner around the fire with a pot hanger is a world apart from today.

People of the Victorian period (1837-1901) took greater care in their clothing.

The 1920s is a period which is still known and idolised for its iconic "flapper'"style.

Skilful eyes piece together missing details behind historical photographs at museum.

Whangārei is lucky to have been home to many talented and prolific photographers.

This photo fills the gap in our understanding of a crucial time in Whangārei's history.

Farmers catalogues can help trace 20th century New Zealand fashion and tech trends.

Small artefacts bear witness to many and varied lives of Northland's early settlers.

We've come a long way from the regular chore of refilling both ink wells and pens.

Project is part of 250th anniversary of Captain Cook's HMS Endeavour first visiting NZ.

Passionate gardeners behind one of Whangārei's key community spaces - Parihaka.

Cultivators in collection remain characteristic of a pioneering and colourful company.

Preservation gives insight into critical farm, home tools and efforts made to obtain them.

Local fruit industry legacy preserved in Whangārei Museum archives.

Machine seals, makers' marks and wear from use helpful for analysing artefact history.

The Cruikshanks were a family of famous London illustrators.

Visitor cards were primarily used in the middle and upper classes.