The Otago Museum's newest exhibition has been 150 years in the making.
Established in 1868, the museum is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a special exhibition celebrating the diversity of its collection.
More than 500 items from the museum's humanities, natural science and taoka Maori collections will displayed in the exhibition called "est. 1868''.
Head of exhibitions and creative services Craig Scott said the objects would not be displayed in a traditional chronological order. Instead, they have been organised into different themes, including, rarest, biggest, smallest, sexiest and tastiest.
Some sections would challenge visitors to consider the change in attitudes to past museum practices, environmental issues, and how society and the museums would continue to be shaped during the next 150 years, Mr Scott said.
Memories collected from people associated with the museum, both personally and professionally, will be threaded throughout the "past'' section, he said.
Visitors would also be encouraged to contribute their thoughts and ideas, as part of an installation which would grow during the nine-month exhibition.
The free exhibition opens in the museum's special exhibitions gallery on Saturday, August 25, and runs until April 14.