The museum is housed in the former Bath House building which was opened in 1908 and is noted as the first major investment in the New Zealand tourism industry by the government.[1] The Bath House is a half-timbered building that has been called the most impressive Elizabethan Revival building in New Zealand.[2]
Rotorua Museum opened in the south wing of the Bath House in 1969; Rotorua Art Gallery opened in the north wing in 1977. In 1988, the museum and gallery combined to form the Rotorua Museum of Art and History.[3]
The museum was closed in 2016 due to not meeting New Zealand earthquake standards.[4] In 2023 the Rotorua Lakes Council committed to continuing and completing repairs to the building to enable it to reopen.[5]
Gallery
A historic view of the museum building when it was the Bath House.
Oblique view of the museum, with croquet lawn in front.