With the development of the new science centre well underway, exhibits from the now-closed Discovery World are being relocated to new homes.
The air cannon and the magnetic crane from the original Discovery World at Otago Museum are being donated to the children’s ward at Dunedin Public Hospital, with the install set to take place on Tuesday 26 September.
“The Paediatric inpatient unit uses distraction therapy as part of the holistic care it provides to the children in our service. We are extremely grateful to the Museum for the donation of such items. They will be very much appreciated by the children who are in hospital” says Shirley Bell, Charge Nurse Manager for the Paediatric Inpatients department at Dunedin Hospital.
Orokonui Ecosanctuary, an ecological island wildlife reserve 20km north of Dunedin, is also taking on some of the interactives that are no longer required. Nature-related exhibits such as ‘push-the-poo’, the silkworm and green leaf table are set to relocate later in the week.
“It is fantastic that the Museum is able to donate some of the key interactives from the old Discovery World – no doubt local Dunedinites will remember them fondly. We hope that both Dunedin Public Hospital and Orokonui Ecosanctuary get as much enjoyment out of them in the coming years, as our visitors have in the past” says Museum Director, Ian Griffin.
A handful of the remaining interactives will be listed for sale on Trade Me in the coming weeks.
Work on the new science centre has been underway since July, with 50 new science interactives currently being installed, as well as refurbishment of the Tropical Forest butterfly house. The new science centre is supported by $500,000 in funding from the Otago Community Trust and is due for completion in early December.