Toitu Otago Settlers Museum attracts 320,884 visitors in its first year of operation

Having undergone a four-stage, $37.5 million redevelopment, the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum in Dunedin attracted 320,884 visitors in 2013.

The redevelopment, which began in 2008, doubled the size of the Museum It was opened on 7th December 2012.

Commenting on the visitor numbers, Toitu Otago Settlers Museum acting Director Jennifer Evans stated “the response from visitors has been fantastic!

“The team here are thrilled with the very high visitor numbers, which are more than four times as many as before the redevelopment.

“We receive a really good mix of tourists and locals, and we are busy on cruise ship days as well as weekends and public holidays. Right now, we are gearing up for our local audience coming in to see Pixie Town, so we expect a very busy few weeks leading up to Christmas.”

Museum staff members are particularly pleased people are coming back many times as the plan was always to encourage repeat visits.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull added “Toitu Otago Settlers Museum is where the multiple strands of Dunedin’s whakapapa are on display and it’s fantastic our community appreciates it so much.”

The Museum exceeded its new 180,000 annual visitor target in the first six months. Prior to redevelopment it had attracted about 65,000 visitors a year.

Click here to visit the Museum's website.

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