The Museum Detective

This website holds 72 podcasts. Most were recorded on site in museums in New Zealand and Tasmania from June 2006 to July 2008. The project was primarily self-funded as I wanted to experiment with ways in which the museum, heritage, education and scientific research sectors could promote the work that they do while entertaining and educating folks at the same time. 

Podcasting, I felt, was a low risk, low cost creative enterprise, providing there were clear objectives for why an individual or an organisation would want to commit to it. 

The Museum Detective started with six episodes as I wanted to test the feasibility of whether there were enough ‘museum type stories out there to tell’ - there were. Next I needed to build on my skills as an interviewer - this is when I drew from my prior experience as a museum educator and university teacher. From a listener’s perspective I liked the mobility that podcasting offered. As a listener I also expected to be carried through the next 20 minutes (or so) into a rich audio landscape filled with sound, texture, ambience and good old-fashioned storytelling.

The Museum Detective covers a wide range of time periods, from archae-paleaontology to women’s suffrage, and explores subjects from science history to criminology. A variety of museum types are featured from observatories, national museums, community museums, art galleries, university teaching collections, and includes people from all levels of expertise, from museum volunteers to university teachers to museum professionals. 

These episodes played on various radio stations in New Zealand between June 2006 - July 2008. As a ‘newbie broadcaster’ receiving recognition for these podcasts at the New Zealand Radio Awards in 2007 and 2008 was certainly a highlight.

Thanks to all the folks who have supported, and who gave of their time to be interviewed for The Museum Detective.

Particular thanks to the following organisations and people who also hired the services of The Museum Detective for lectures, presentations, workshops and commissions: Woodsdale Museum, Tasmania; Arts Tasmania; State Library of Tasmania; Te Papa; Shantytown; Christchurch City Libraries; Christchurch Regional Archives; Massey University; and, Otago Polytechnic.  

If you liked The Museum Detective, perhaps you’ll enjoy The Library Detective, six episodes commissioned by Christchurch City Libraries which became New Zealand’s first Library Podcast.

Allan Palmer is a volunteer working at the Pigeon Valley Steam Museum, Higgins Park, Wakefield — yes, this is a museum mecca for traction engine, truck, and tractor enthusiasts. Higgins Park started 30 years ago when a possum hunter spotted a traction engine down in the Inangahua Gorge and a couple of men from up Nelson [...]

Michelle Osborne looks after the James Wallace Arts Trust Collection at the Auckland University of Technology. Looking after this collection presents a number of challenges such as ensuring that the art objects are hung in appropriate places — you know, making sure that they’re not accidentally leaned on by students, have pot-plants leaning up against [...]

Gary Ross, curator, South Otago Museum, Balclutha, took on the challenge to prove that small town museums have big stories to tell. Within this wonderland are two stories of national significance. Behind a couple of postcards and a man’s jacket is the story of Amy Bock - a thief and a con artist. In 1909 [...]