From the 1880s until 1954 there was a Museum in Masterton, established under the guidance of Richard Brown, the secretary of Masterton Trust Lands Trust. The collection consists of some 170 fascinating and curious objects, gathered by local people, sometimes souvenirs from overseas trips.
When the Museum closed because new premises could not be found, the collection went to the Dominion Museum in Wellington (now Te Papa Tongarewa) under the proviso that it would be returned if a suitable facility became available.
With Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History opening in 2002, discussions to return the collection began and finally in 2012, the Masterton Museum Collection was returned to the Wairarapa. The entire collection is on display for the first time.
The exhibition is proudly supported by Masterton Trust Lands Trust
