Sir Tim has agreed to be patron of Shantytown as it continues its development in an effort to become a top South Island tourist attraction.
He was involved in the West Coast timber, deer and aviation industries.
Other Wallis family interests included sawmilling in Westport, Haupiri, Whataroa and Haast areas and quartz gold-mining at Inangahua Junction.
West Coast Historical and Mechanical Society chairman Max Lysaght said Sir Tim's experiences exemplified the stories of courage and enterprise that Shantytown wanted to tell in its exhibits.
Sir Tim said he was proud of the role he and his family had played on the West Coast and was keen to support the project, which started in 2007 with the help of various grants.
A sawmilling experience was opened at the historic goldmining site near Greymouth last year and a foundry exhibit is under way.
