Torpedo Bay, on the shores of the Waitemata Harbour in Devonport, is the new home of the Navy Museum. The move to Torpedo Bay has been both an outstanding opportunity and an incredible journey.
Torpedo Bay itself is a site of exceptional significance, having been a key part of Auckland’s early defence system as well as having been continuously occupied by New Zealand military forces since 1880. Torpedo Bay is the most substantial and intact 19th century mining base to survive in New Zealand.
Relocating the Museum to Torpedo Bay has seen the Museum celebrate and add the newest chapter to the site’s extraordinary heritage, with the original 1896 buildings being redeveloped to accommodate the new Museum.
Inside; in addition to an outstanding café, conference facility and education space, completely new permanent exhibitions showcase the story of the Navy’s contribution to the development of New Zealand’s identity through the lens of the Navy’s values - commitment, courage and comradeship.
As New Zealand’s only Navy Museum, the Torpedo Bay facility will strongly complement other icons of New Zealand’s military, maritime and social heritage, such as the War Memorial Museum, Voyager Maritime Museum, North Head, Bastion Point and Auckland Art Gallery. Alongside Auckland’s other museums and heritage sites, this creates an unmatched cluster of valuable national historic facilities, spanning both sides of the Waitemata Harbour.
There is no doubt the new Navy Museum at Torpedo Bay will be an important part of our local Devonport community, our regional community as part of the new Auckland City and our national community.