No visit to Ashburton would be complete without a visit to the Town's Museum. Originally started in a private house, it moved to the tower of St Lawrence Chapel and, when it outgrew that, in 1962, to the old blacksmith's shop behind the chapel (part of the old grammar school site). By 1968 it moved again to its present site in the centre of Ashburton (next door to Lloyds Bank) in a building which was once a brush factory.
It houses a unique collection, which, in addition to items of local interest, includes a large collection of North American Indian artifacts.
Ashburton Museum is now a fully registered museum officially recognised by the Museums and Galleries Commission and is kept and run by the Hon Curator Mr H J Broughton.
The museum contains history of the mining and wool processing of the town. There are collections of lace, Victorian dolls and North Americam Indian artefacts. The museum collections are on three floors.
For Group visitors, please call for details. There is a maximum group of 25 persons. Toilets, including facilities for the disabled and nappy changing, are within a 50 minute walk.