There’s something to entertain everyone

Visitors often ask why there is a clock museum in Whangārei and why it is called Claphams.

Claphams National Clock Museum is named after the founder of the collection, Archibald (Archie) Clapham. Archie moved to New Zealand from Yorkshire UK, in 1903 when he was only 21-yearsold. He worked as an engineer, but his great passion was clocks and he amassed over 400 that he displayed in the lounge of his home which was near the Whangārei Falls. He had an open-door policy and people would turn up by the bus-load to view his collection.

When he got older, he started to wonder what he was going to do with 400 clocks so in 1961 he approached Whangārei Council and an agreement was made to purchase the collection for a nominal fee as an asset for the town. His clocks have been displayed in numerous locations around Whangārei, but it was the development of the Town Basin that provided a permanent purpose-built home for Claphams National Clock Museum.

Archie’s collection of clocks and music boxes, some extremely rare and most in working order, form the basis of the museum. Currently, and mostly by donation, the collection stands at over 1400 clocks and 400 watches and is one of the largest and most historically significant in the Southern Hemisphere.

Known for his quirky character and sense of humour, Archie’s favourite clocks were the ones that did something unexpected and made people laugh. Archie’s fun-loving spirit remains with his unique collection today. From ancient sun, sand and water clocks, to rare antique clocks, and wacky, unbelievable clocks, even clocks that make the tea, there’s something to entertain everyone.

The oldest clock in the collection is a Gretton longcase or grandfather clock that dates from c1690 and it still goes! While most of the clocks in the collection are mechanical, there are also some fine examples of battery-operated clocks from the mid-20th century. There are also wonderful novelty clocks designed especially for children, and the children always enjoy the clock hunt where they search for particular clocks among the hundreds on display.

Guided tours are offered at no extra charge. The enthusiastic and experienced guides bring the individual timepieces to life as they demonstrate how they work. You will learn how cuckoos “cuckoo”, why clocks go “clockwise”, why we have 24 hours in a day, and much more while they take you on an entertaining and educational walk through time.

At the entrance to the museum is the magnificent sundial. With its gnomon (rod) reaching 23 metres long, and weighing 6-tonne, it is believed to be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The ingenious design allows the large in-ground plates displaying the numerals to be moved for daylight saving. Though it takes a special tool, not inconsiderable muscle power and, usually, a little head scratching about which direction to move them.

The museum shop stocks a great range of clocks and specialty watches. There are mechanical and automatic watches, pocket watches and nurses’ watches, and a fabulous range of time-teacher watches for children. You will also find New Zealand-made gifts including merino products, greenstone jewellery, and some interesting steampunk jewellery made from old watch parts.

Claphams National Clock Museum is a Whangārei “must do” and is open every day from 9am–5 pm. Closed only Christmas Day.