When the Otago Settlers Association started collecting in 1898 they began by amassing documents relating to early settlers and by collecting portraits of old identities. Today archives and portraits still form major components of the Otago Settlers Museum's collection.

The Association's collecting soon broadened to include 'things', beginning in July 1902 with the acquisition of Captain Cargill's Kilmarnock bonnet. Emphasis was on items that represented 'firsts'. For example, the first native wood table made in Otago was the second 'thing' added into the museum collection.

As well as this collection of 'firsts', other strengths of the Otago Settlers Museum include its treasure trove of costume, childhood items, kitchen and household objects, and collections relating to computing, transport and local industries. From hairdressing to boot making, from slate to microchip, the Otago Settlers Museum collections are strong on objects that portray the rich social history of otago the region. The primary emphasis of these collections is, of course, their relationship to people or events of importance to the history of Otago or Dunedin.

If you add to the unique collections of archives, portraits and objects an equally unique collection of nineteenth century New Zealand art you can see why the Otago Settlers Museum is Otago's premier social history museum.