In the 1920s, the supply of electricity in New Zealand's urban areas made the use of electric stoves, washing machines and other electrical appliances possible. However, the cost of the appliances, along with extensive number of rural areas yet to benefit from electricity supply, meant many people continued to cook on open ranges and rely on manually operated domestic appliances.
MOTAT possess a very diverse collection of domestic technology from washing machines and electrical products to fire bellows and tongs. This collection covers the early years of European settlement when mains electricity was still a dream, up until today when microwaves, vacuum cleaners and washing machines are present in almost every home.
Objects from this collection are displayed throughout the site, particularly in the Victorian Village's Willow cottage and the 1920s Turnbull and Jones electrical supplies shop at the Great North Rd site.
