Northland Medical Museum

About

The museum hosts items collected since 1977 by retired anaesthetist, Dr John Swinney. It includes medical instruments, anaesthetic machines, an iron lung, photos & a letter from the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale.

Story

The Northland Medical Museum hosts a fascinating collection of medical memorabilia collected over 35 years by retired consultant anaesthetist, Dr John Swinney. Dr Swinney, who emigrated from Sunderland, England to Whangarei, New Zealand in 1975, was surprised to see old equipment of formerly great value, being sent to the rubbish tip and so called on his colleagues to save items of interest for the collection. He originally collected items in his office at Northland Base Hospital, but this became too small. Consequently, in about 2000, items were then moved to 'The Cottage,' which was where the hospital cook used to live. Eventually, this also became too small a venue for the burgeoning assortment of items, so in 2011 a decision was made to move the collection again. With the help of the Northland District Hospital Board, the collection, as well as The Cottage building itself, were moved to a new and far larger home at Kiwi North Heritage Park.
The museum is currently in the process of being set up and it will be officially opened by the Governor General on February 2nd, 2013.
If you have something you wish to donate to the museum, please contact museum founder, Dr John Swinney on 09-4384164.