In 1978 a new director, Seddon Bennington, embarked on a programme of renewal. A later Director, Elizabeth Hinds, continued the museum's resurgence. The Dunedin City Council provided grants increasingly covering costs and in 1991 took over the museum's ownership and operation.
In 1978, Seddon Bennington became the new director, initiating a program for revitalization of the museum. Elizabeth Hinds continued this progress as the subsequent Director. The Dunedin City Council provided more grants to cover costs and eventually took over ownership and management of the museum in 1991.