Regarded as one of Rotorua’s most engaging cultural hotspots the Rotorua Museum’s latest exhibit is drawing visitors from far and wide. Housed within the iconic Bath House structure this captivating exhibit captures the life and times of Tudor Towers, a venue that underwent several incarnations during its thirty year history.
What set the venue apart from other recreational spaces in the city was its unique location in a former bath house which was established by the government of New Zealand as a premier spa resort. Dubbed the Government Gardens the Bath House in which the Tudor Towers was contained now serves as the sprawling Rotorua Museum.
The permanent exhibit celebrating the diverse fortunes of the Bath House’s chief attraction Tudor Towers has been a fixture at the museum since 2008. Having been a stylish dining venue for residents during the 1960’s the exhibition traces the restaurants’ foray in to introducing fine dining experiences to the city as the first eatery of its kind.
During its 35 year reign as one of Rotorua’s trendiest venues the locale also heralded in the golden age of the city’s thriving music scene when who’s who in the world of music frequented this quaint corner of the Kiwi isles and took the stage at the Towers as it was locally known. Renowned musicians from New Zealand and abroad took centre stage at the locale which was well known for its gaunt dance floor. A stunning Tudor-inspired stage was later constructed and consisted of several tiers that added to the grandeur of the already electrifying performance space.
The roaring 1970’s saw the Top of the Towers Cabaret take over the Tudor Towers while the 1980’s launched the highly successful but short-lived Tudor Towers Promotions.The exhibition which is located in a gallery in the museum’s upmost foyer explores these colourful periods in the legacy of Tudor Towers and also pays homage to the institution as its success as an dining hub, entertainment hotspot and later promotional venue is intrinsically linked with the preservation of the once dilapidated Bath House.
The popularity of Tudor Towers over the decades in fact secured the preservation of the former spa facility till such time when it could be transformed to its opulent state and converted to house the city’s museum.
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