Aigantighe Art Museum

Important issues first here: Aigantighe is Scottish Gaelic for ‘at home’ and is pronounced ‘egg and tie’.

Aigantighe is an historic house in Timaru that became an art museum in 1956. It was built in 1908 for Alexander Grant (1832-1921) and Helen Grant (1854 -1955), who had emigrated from Scotland and farmed Gray’s Hill Station in the Mackenzie Country.

Aigantighe was donated to the people of Timaru in 1955, the year Mrs Grant died.

The collection includes British Victorian paintings, works by Charles Goldie, Frances Hodgkins, van der Velden and Colin McCahon as well as local artists. In addition to its permanent collection, Aigantghe hosts a range of international and local exhibitions.

There is also a sculpture garden. Afine regional gallery worth a visit.