The Awarua Communications Museum is one resource for learning or exploring New Zealand's communications heritage. Other websites offer their own insights in this field, or into other Southland activities. We share here some websites that may be of use to visitors.
Technology Sites
Awarua Radio Reunion 2014 - Facebook
Awarua Radio was was commissioned in 1913 and this Facebook site records the celebration of that event.
Neil Sanderson's 'Maritime Radio' website does a splendid job of recording the history of the NZPO coastal radio station service. Neil's work is acknowledged and his site is strongly recommended for its supporting information to that which we provide here.
The Awanui Radio references are particularly relevant as Awanui was a sister high-powered transmitting station to Awarua Radio and was constructed to Telefunken plans by the Australian Wireless Company (later to become AWA). Consequently, Awanui has strong matches of equipment, antennas and housing to those installed at Awarua.
Musick Memorial Radio Station was named after famous aviator Captain Edwin C Musick and was the home of Auckland Radio ZLD and Auckland Radio ZLF (the aviation service for flying boats). Much of the equipment recorded on this site is consistent with that installed at Awarua Radio in the same era.
Unwin Radar
This project is located in a paddock towards the rear of the Awarua Station Farm. It is part of an Australian university study of auroras and the ionosphere. As at 2024 there is a proposal to close the site. As it is currently non-operational the URL link has been removed but the equipment is still on site.
Space Operations - New Zealand
On an isolated road just south of the Awarua Station Farm a satellite earth station provided the beginnings of what is now a major New Zealand space initiative. From HF radio support around the Pacific to worldwide support around the world and far beyond!
Southland Regional Sites
[Link is to Explore Invercargill website info as the original Bluff Museum website URL seems to have expired.]
The captivating story of Bluff's maritime history.
Southland Museum and Art Gallery
The distinctive pyramid shaped Southland Museum and Art Gallery in Invercargill.
Kayak Southland Tourism Guide
We thank Kayak for the opportunity to feature in their Invercargill Travel Guide. If you are looking for more information about our part of the world, please use this helpful resource. [Coming]