An enthusiastic audience of 65 attended the 63rd annual meeting in the museum's gallery on Thursday night.
Earlier circulation of reports by chairman John Wilson and museum director David Clarke for the first time worked well in notifying everyone in advance what the position was, Mr Clarke said on Friday.
The year ended July 31 was the toughest financially in the 63-year history of the museum, with figures showing a "considerable" loss of $66,000 for the facility and a "small loss" of almost $2000 for its post office.
The trading loss was due to decreasing patronage by visitors and increasing operating costs, members and supporters heard.
Mr Clarke told the Queenstown Times the Lakes District Museum was facing the same revenue troubles as other small museums in New Zealand which were not fully funded by ratepayers, including Central Stories Museum in Alexandra.
"One of the Queenstown members raised the issue that it just seemed to be an Arrowtown museum, and I said it wasn't intended that way. When we tried to drum up some interest in the 150th anniversary of the discovery of gold celebrations [next year], there was no interest from Queenstown residents.
"It was the same when we had a little annex museum in Queenstown years ago.
"We really do want support from Queenstown people."
The returning museum committee consists of chairman John Wilson for a second term, with vice-chairwoman Pam Wilson, treasurer Taylor Reed and secretary Ann Bain.
Guest speaker was Captain David Morgan, of Auckland.
The Air New Zealand chief pilot, airline operations and safety general manager and museum member gave an engaging talk on taking family representatives to the Antarctic on the trip marking the 30th anniversary of the Erebus tragedy 30th anniversary commemorative trip in November 2009.
The museum's gallery will host "Colourific", an exhibition of 120 pieces by the Association of New Zealand Embroiderers' Guild, from October 1 to 30.
