Arts & Culture |
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Located just a short walking distance from Gore's CBD, is the Arts & Heritage Precinct, which hosts a range of attractions and facilities including the Hokonui Moonshine Museum, Eastern Southland Gallery, Gore Historical Museum, Gore Heritage Research Centre and Destination Gore Visitor Centre. |
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The Hokonui Moonshine MuseumThis visitor attraction celebrates the history of illicit whiskey making in the southern region. The museum explores a variety of colourful stories through re creations, audio-visuals and artefacts and demonstrates just how adventurous local ‘moonshiners’ became in the face of police opposition and how ‘kiwi’ ingenuity foiled (and often failed to foil) the customs men. ‘Old Hokonui’ whiskey, made to the original local recipe, is one of a number of popular items of merchandise available for purchase from the museum. Location: 16 Hokonui Drive, Gore The Gore Historical MuseumThis museum celebrates the district’s social history with a variety of displays and special collections. A wide range of items and information cover the arrival of southern Maori, early European settlers, and the resulting enterprise that made this district unique. The 'Hook, Line and Sinker' display is dedicated to fly fishing on the Mataura River, and for those with an interest in local history or genealogical research there is the Hokonui Heritage Research Centre. Location: 16 Hokonui Drive, Gore Eastern Southland GalleryNicknamed the ‘Goreggenheim’ by Saatchi & Saatchi boss Kevin Roberts, the Eastern Southland Gallery is a public art museum, situated within the arts & heritage precinct. It features the remarkable and internationally renowned John Money Collection, which includes paintings by Rita Angus and Theo Schoon (NZ), Lowell Nesbitt (USA), Bambarra, Dogon and Baga carvings from West Africa, and paintings and carvings from Elcho Island (Australia). The Gallery is also home to one of the largest holdings of works by major New Zealand contemporary artist Ralph Hotere and presents a vibrant annual programme of temporary exhibitions. Location: 14 Hokonui Drive, Gore, (by the clock tower) Hokonui Pioneer ParkSituated on the boundary of Gore in a park setting, Hokonui Pioneer Park features a number of local historic buildings as part of a Village setting. A school, bank, cottage, church and blacksmith come furnished as they were in the early 1900's. A large display building, houses many tractors, farm implements, drays, a variety of household appliances and telecommunications of the past. Location: Cnr, Main Gore-Queenstown Highway (State Highway 94) & Waimea Street, Gore Performing ArtsThe redeveloped SBS St James Theatre in the centre of Gore, and a significant provincial facility. With its state-of-the-art fly tower, the theatre can be quickly transformed from a cinema offering patrons a selection of the latest movies, into a live theatre venue presenting a variety of nationally significant performances. These sometimes include the Royal New Zealand Ballet and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. The theatre is also home to thriving local theatrical and music societies - including the Gore Operatic Society, who produce at least 2 first rate productions throughout the year. The Gore Repertory Society’s 'Little Theatre' (situated in the Gore Community Centre) is an intimate theatrical space that hosts regular performances from the Society, as well as touring plays and performances throughout the year. Croydon Aviation Heritage Trust2006 saw the opening of Southland's new aviation museum project at the Old Mandeville Airfield, on State Highway 94, near Gore. The $1.4m structure hosts a colleciton of nationally and internationally significant vintage (principally de Havilland) aircraft, and complements both the Croydon Aircraft Company workshops and The Moth restaurant in order to provide a leading attraction for visitors to the region. Displays and interpretations celebrated the colourful stories of pioneer aviators, and the equally colourful machines. The Moth restaurant is a well-established component of this precinct, and a charter and joy-ride service is currently available. Location: Old Mandeville Airefield, Mandeville. |
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