The social history of this farming community is illustrated through an eclectic collection and the recreation of scenes from the past.

Accessible 24/7, all year round, is the refurbished skeleton of a unique submarine named Platypus, designed and built in 1873 to prospect for gold in the Clutha River. It is located under cover alongside the museum building with explanatory information.

We feature a permanent exhibition “At Home in Middlemarch during WW1.” This exhibition shifts the focus from the 106 men, who left local farms and businesses to serve overseas during the Great War. We look at life in the Strath Taieri during wartime through the memorabilia from 100 years ago.

In "the barn" is a display of wartime saddles and other horse gear. Here you will also find an extensive collection of horse-drawn implements and farming tools.

A restored railway wagon illustrates the significant contribution the Otago Central Railway made to the local community through photographs, story and a timeline.

The Museum’s extensive document and photograph collection will be of interest to people retracing their family’s history. Also significant are the cemetery transcripts, death notices, obituaries and unique catalogue of newspaper articles about people who lived in or had association with the Strath Taieri.

"Strath Taieri's Passing Parade", an ever-growing digital collection of personal profiles of now deceased former Strath Taieri residents is available for viewing at the museum and can also be viewed on-line (email us to request the internet link).