Sargeant Gallery is one of New Zealand s most iconic and best-known heritage buildings.
Photo: Supplied
The contents give a fascinating historical window into the time of World War I, as well as resurrecting an old controversy of who really designed the building.
Originally constructed between 1917-1919 the Sarjeant Gallery at Pukenamu Queen s Park is one of New Zealand s most iconic and best-known heritage buildings.
The redevelopment is the largest arts development in the lower North Island since Te Papa. It will give the region an earthquake strengthened heritage gallery with a new state-of-the-art modern wing.
The new gallery is scheduled to reopen in 2023, capable of showcasing national and international exhibitions. It will also house the nationally-significant Sarjeant collection of over 8300 works of New Zealand and international art.
Time capsule hidden for 102 years found at Whanganui s Sarjeant Gallery redevelopment site
29 Apr, 2021 05:00 AM
6 minutes to read
All of the contents found in the time capsule left behind Clerk of Works John Brodie 102 years ago. Photo / Bevan Conley
All of the contents found in the time capsule left behind Clerk of Works John Brodie 102 years ago. Photo / Bevan Conley
A historic discovery has been made at the Sarjeant Gallery redevelopment site at Pukenamu Queen s Park in Whanganui. A 102-year-old time capsule has been discovered by construction workers, with gallery staff labelling it the most significant find of the excavation project so far.
Your playlist will load after this ad The tradie working on the strengthening of the heritage-listed building that made the discovery is calling it fate. Source: 1 NEWS
He felt the drill drop into an unexpected space between the walls below, where there should have been concrete.
“We ve got to investigate that,” he told 1 NEWS.
Directly below in the gallery where the drilling had occurred above, another hole was created in a nearby wall to find the space.
Awa put his hand in the hole, removing what he thought was rubbish.
“Realised straight away soon as I grabbed it that, ‘Aw hang on a minute, that s not rubbish’ so we ve carefully removed what it was and discovered all the treasure.”