Auckland Museum is New Zealand's oldest museum, founded in 1852. In 1929 it moved to its current neo-classical building. By the early 1990s it had fallen into serious disrepair. Rodney Wilson was appointed Director in 1994, taxed with the refurbishment of the building and its large number of permanent exhibitions, the requirement for new legislation, new governance, new management, and complete organisational transformation. During the 12 years to 1996 this was all achieved, along with major building additions. At a total capital cost of $115,000,000 Auckland Museum has become a state-of-the-art institution, fusing the best of its tradition with the best of modern development. A lasting legacy is the establishment of a funded capital asset renewal programme, in perpetuity, including the complete replacement of two permanent exhibitions every year. |
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The Grand Atrium at Auckland Museum |
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| This was the ultimate "green fields" project. Commenced with no collection, no site, no staff and no money, Rodney Wilson acquired a prime central city waterfront site, assembled an impressive collection, raised the money, and built an array of buildings on a wharf and associated shore front, with jetties, marina and floating boat shed. Active workshops demonstrating maritime trades in action were included as well as a fascinating range of exhibits. More than 20 boat builders worked on the restoration of small craft, keel boats and powered vessels, while also building the first authentic trading scow to be built in seventy years, the "TED ASHBY". |  |
Shore based whaling station at the Maritime Museum |
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| During the first half of the 1980s, areas of the Art Gallery's historic Grainger d'Ebro French chateau style building, which had previously been occupied by the City Council and City Library, were remodelled as additional Gallery facilities. Rodney Wilson led this project, while simultaneously developing exhibitions, publications and events activities to a level hitherto unknown in New Zealand. |  |
Auckland Art Gallery, cnr Wellesley and Kitchener Streets |
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| Wellington City Gallery is an exhibitions-focused civic art gallery devoted to contemporary art. Rodney Wilson's role was to assist the newly appointed Gallery Director in the mid 1990s to review its role, plan its strategies for future development, and support staff in writing concept and architectural briefs for the conversion of the former City Library into a new gallery. Subsequently, his recommendations to Wellington City Council for 'clustering' the City's museums and historic properties were adopted, and the Wellington Museums Trust formed. He has had an ongoing, periodic role in assisting the Trust and Gallery with strategic review and planning. |  |
Wellington City Gallery |
| In the early 1990s Rodney Wilson was engaged by the Rotorua District Council to review the future of their historic "Bathhouse" building ( a former spa and hospital), and the museum it housed. More recently he has provided support to the Council, Museum Director and their Architects, as plans to complete the building to its full 1907 design are implemented. |  |
Rotorua Museum's "Bathhouse" building |
In 2008 Site Specific consulted with the Dunedin City Council, staff, supporters and stakeholders of its art gallery and museums, together with key parties interested in the future of those institutions, and reported to the City Council with options for their future governance and management. The recommendations were all approved and adopted by Council, and the first stage of implementation has been completed with the appointment of new directors for the Dunedin Public art Gallery and Otago Settlers Museum. |
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Dunedin Museum and Art Gallery |
Rodney Wilson has long standing and deep experience in the development, planning and delivery of first-class exhibitions for art galleries and museums. During 30 years of professional practice he has produced many important international and domestic exhibitions, along with associated books, catalogues, publications and events programmes. He has developed 25 permanent exhibitions (along with a programme of Gallery Renewal which sees them replaced according to planned life cycles) at Auckland War Memorial Museum, and 14 permanent galleries at the National Maritime Museum. |
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Vaka Moana - Tikopean canoe |
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Just some of the key Special Exhibitions he has brought about include;
Public art works commissioned by Rodney Wilson have included; George Rickey "Double L Gyratory", Neil Dawson "Throwback", Peter Nicholls "Spine", and "Gateway" by Chris Booth at the edge of Albert Park in downtown Auckland. |
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