The Te Papa Museum’s Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War Exhibition has been extended, and the good news is that no end date has been announced. If you see nothing else in Wellington, New Zealand, the Gallipoli: Scale of Our War exhibition at Te Papa Museum is the one thing that you should do.
In collaboration with the Weta Workshop crew, Te Papa has produced this extraordinary story of the experiences of the men and women who served in World War 1. Not only is it free to enter the Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War Exhibition (and the museum), but it also takes at least 1 hour to go around this space (it took me 2 hours the first time and 1.5 hours the second).
Level 2 of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is where you will find this exhibit.
Please note: Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War will be closed from Monday, 21 July to Friday, 12 September 2025, for essential maintenance and upgrades necessary to extend the exhibition’s lifespan. It will open to the public again on Sat, 13 September 2025.
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Contents
- 1 Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War Exhibition
- 2 Lt. Spencer Westmacott
- 3 Col. Percival Fenwick
- 4 Private Jack Dunn
- 5 Lt. Colin Warden, Cpl. Friday Hawkins and Pvt. Rikihana Carkeek
- 6 Lottie Le Gallais
- 7 Sgt. Cecil Malthus
- 8 Where I Stayed
- 9 Conclusion
- 10 Links
- 11 Travel Resources
- 12 Did You Like This Post? Then Pin It!
Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War Exhibition
Lt. Spencer Westmacott
Upon entering the first room, you find a giant life-like model of Lt. Spencer Westmacott, and this is where the Weta Workshop comes into action. The Weta Workshop team made the giant, life-like figures portraying these people, and I mean life-like. The detail is incredible, down to the stubble on faces and beads of sweat and tears. It is almost as if they are going to come to life right in front of you.
Not only is he the first person you see in Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War, but he was one of the first New Zealand men to land at Gallipoli and charge up the hill to support the Australians already there. He was so severely wounded on that first day that he ended up having his right arm amputated. After a long and trying rehabilitation, he was sent to France to train soldiers. While in France, he painted, portraying his time in Gallipoli, including the people, battles, and surroundings.
Col. Percival Fenwick
You are taken next into the room with Dr Percival Fenwick. During the South African War, he had been a military surgeon before emigrating to New Zealand. He was also one of the first at Gallipoli, later commenting, ‘It does not matter what Anzac Cove is called. Perhaps it will someday be known as Bloody Beach Bay. God knows we have paid heavily for it.’
Dr Fenwick not only kept a diary (which was against the rules) but also took photos from a 3D camera (also against the rules). You can view them at the exhibition. He helped organise a truce with the Turks so that both sides could bury their dead. The toll of two months of such a bloody war took too much from him. He was evacuated back to England with what would now be called PTSD.
This is one of the most poignant scenes in the Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War exhibition.
As you move from room to room, you not only encounter the stories of these brave men and women but also experience the history through dioramas, models, artefacts, and interactive experiences that help capture the time, emotion, and feelings of what these people went through.
Private Jack Dunn
The story of Private Jack Dunn is one of the many remarkable tales that unfold during any war and is the most poignant story in the Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War exhibition.
As a machine gunner, Jack was one of the elite and needed men on the front line. Jack became sick from all the diseases, unhygienic conditions, and flies crawling around him. He was evacuated to Lemnos on June 1, 1915, to recover.
On 16 June, he was back. Because he was still not fully recovered, Jack fell asleep while on sentry duty, which was punishable by death. He was court-martialed and sentenced to death on 18 June before General Hamilton remitted the sentence on 30 July. The General considered his excellent record and character, as well as the fact that he was still recovering from his illness.
Unfortunately, Jack was one of the many to die in the Battle for Chunuk Bair between 6 and 10 August, as depicted in the next rooms.
Lt. Colin Warden, Cpl. Friday Hawkins and Pvt. Rikihana Carkeek
The story of these men in Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War exhibition, is probably not uncommon in wartime.
Machine Gunners Lieutenant Colin Warden, Corporal Friday Hawkins and Private Rikihana Carkeek were holding back the Turks at Rhododendron Ridge. Lieutenant Colin Warden was the first to fall, with a bullet knocking him back. He managed to say, “Carry on, boys”, before taking his last breath. Private Friday Hawkins was shot in the wrist after taking the gun from Corporal Donald Ferris, who had been shot in the head. Private Carkeet was then next to take the gun before being shot through the body at the base of the neck. He managed to drag himself down to get help. Both Friday and Rikihana survived the war.
Lottie Le Gallais
The only woman on display was one of the nurses on the hospital ship, Maheno. She was supposed to meet up with her brother Leddie, but unfortunately, he was killed in action a month before she arrived in Egypt. She did not find out he was dead until a few months into her deployment. It was in Gallipoli, when letters arrived from home, that she learned her brother’s fate. Her absolute devastation on hearing the news is captured so well by the Weta Workshop’s team. Not long after, she returned home to New Zealand on the Maheno, marking the end of her time in the war.
It’s also great that women are represented in this exhibition, Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War.
Sgt. Cecil Malthus
After many films were shot in Gallipoli and more boards filled with information, we arrive at the last room, the Western Front.
After the evacuation of Gallipoli, men spent time in Egypt recuperating before being sent to the Western Front.
It is in this last room that we find the horrors of war continued for many, including Sergeant Cecil Malthus.
After surviving illness in Gallipoli, Cecil was stationed at Armentières, where gas attacks and artillery fire were the norm. Cecil’s spade hit an unseen bomb, and his foot was severely wounded. He said to his wife in a letter, ‘I have had my usual marvellous luck, or I would not be alive at all … ‘
He survived the war (without the toes of his right foot),
The stories portrayed in this exhibition demonstrate the bravery and courage that these men and women displayed in the face of fire.
I hope this blog inspires you to visit Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War at Te Papa Museum. I hope you’ll find it as moving as I did.
Lest We Forget.
Where It Is
The Te Papa Museum, where the Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War exhibition is held, is located at 55 Cable Street, Wellington. It’s easy to find if you are walking along the waterfront, as it’s the only large building before you start turning towards Oriental Bay.
Hours
Daily 10.00 am -6 pm except for Christmas Day.
Admission
Free
Where I Stayed
Wellington’s YHA (now Haka House) is conveniently located on the city’s edge near the waterfront. It’s an easy walk to downtown Wellington and its many attractions.
Just a 5-minute stroll, and you’ll find yourself at Te Papa Museum and the waterfront.
They have dorms with en-suite as well as private rooms and views across the harbour.
Facilities
- 5 GB Free Wifi per day
- Solar Powered
- Fully equipped kitchen (with food storage area), Communal Dining and Lounges on the Floors
- Recycling Stations
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Laundry Facilities
- 24 Guest Access
- Games, Communal TV, Reading Room and Free Movies
- A Lift (and Stairs for the Energetic)
- After-Hours Check-in on Request
- Luggage Storage Options
- Bicycle Storage
- Hair Dryers
- Towel Hire
Where It Is
Haka House is at 292 Wakefield Street near the waterfront.
Conclusion
I highly recommend the exhibition “Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War” at Te Papa Museum.
This one exhibition is informative, moving, inspiring, unimaginable, and more. Everyone should see it.
For more on what to see and do in Wellington, you can visit my blog, 11 Attractions in Wellington on a Budget. If you want to read more about other areas on the North Island, click here.
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Links
If you’d like to read more of my blogs about Australia, you can find them at the following links: Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art. Alternatively, if you’re interested in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or Photography, you can click on their respective links.
Travel Resources
- Flights & Accommodation—You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using Booking.com, Tripadvisor, and WayAway, which offers 5% cashback.
- Car Hire—In Australia, you can use Apex Car Rentals Australia, Budget Car Rentals Australia, or Avis Car Rentals Australia.
- Camper & RV Rentals—Want a quieter pace exploring Australia and New Zealand in your own accommodation? Jucy Rentals and Star RV Rentals will give you an unforgettable travelling experience.
- Train & Bus Tickets UK & Europe—Use Trainline to plan and book your rail and bus travel in the UK and Europe.
- Travel Insurance is the number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master, and Insubuy provide insurance coverage during your travels.
- Attractions—buy before you leave home with these great sites: Big Bus Tour, Get Your Guide, GoCity and Viator.
- Visa Applications—apply online for your visa requirements with iVisa.
- SIM cards—Try Airalo, the world’s first eSIM store, which solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).
- Power Stations—Bluetti Australia and EcoFlow Australia Power Stations are your choices for sustainable, eco-friendly power on the go or at home.
- For more tips, try my Travel Links and Resources page.
Did You Like This Post? Then Pin It!
Another amazing blog really enjoyed the story behind the exhibits I have been to that museum and found it very interesting place to visit I hope many people get to visit
Thanks Kathy. I’ve been twice now, once at the beginning of December and this week and there were a lot of people both times. In December we had classes of kids and queues to get in as well even though it’s been running for a few years.