“Our War Memorial Centre is listed in the top 1000 modernist buildings in the world. Looking up and around when strolling down the avenue, we are surrounded by beautiful heritage buildings,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Helen Craig says the “Our Stories” exhibition is not to be missed: “A collection of stories from Whanganui’s past and present, from the triumphs of sports stars and the melodies of musicians to the impactful endeavours of community organisations and the captivating narratives of individuals,” she said.
A comprehensive display includes Ross Pople, currently principal conductor of the London Festival Orchestra, who was educated at Wanganui Technical College. Dame Gilian Weir, one of the world’s foremost organists, had her schooling in Whanganui at Queen’s Park School, Whanganui Intermediate and Whanganui Girls College. Virginia Zeani, a world-famous soprano, was the first international tutor at the New Zealand Opera School, in 1994, in Whanganui, teaching there for seven years.
More displays showed Amdram’s 150 years, plans of the Royal Whanganui Opera House, Whanganui Sports Hall of Fame, Cooks Gardens, Whanganui War Memorial Centre, Sarjeant Gallery, Durie Hill Elevator and Tunnel, history of transport in Whanganui, waka, ships and riverboats, horse and carriage, public transport, air transport, Whanganui Collegiate School, Whanganui Airport, Eastown Railway Workshops, historical Whanganui rate records database, Whanganui Harbour, Durie Hill Garden Suburb, Whanganui District Council archives, swimming, Castlecliff Surf Club, the Peace Through Unity Charitable Trust, Whanganui Regional Heritage Trust, the Braeburn Hotel, Wanganui Road Rodders, Aotearoa Chinese Culture Club and Taupo Quay Street Drags.
