February 2016 will see a new venture appealing to children - and to the child within every adult - opening to the public in Christchurch. The Toy Collector is opening up his enormous collection of toys and collectables – a reminder of playtimes long past, side by side with yesterday's favourite playthings. It's an eclectic display that will stir memories and prompt smiles of reminiscence for all ages. The Toy Collector himself has been building his collection for half a century. His love of toys was sparked by the anticipation and excitement of a new shipment of Matchbox cars arriving at his local toyshop in The Exchange in Dunedin. In those days, import restrictions limited the number of individual purchases so extra family members would be recruited to buy on his behalf. Those childhood toys led to a fascination with all things miniature – from diecast vehicles to lead soldiers. Over the years the Toy Collector's daughter has introduced him to a world of Littlest Pet Shop and Sylvanian Families and, in more recent times, Hunger Games and Divergent collectables. The Toy Collector's treasures are the result of years of collecting. His collection is not a museum in that the toys are not all old and they are not all in pristine condition – after all, toys are meant to be played with. His collection offers a rare chance to experience a very broad range of toys - from a working model railway, dioramas made with kitsets, audio-visual excerpts, loan collections and donated toys and collectable items. The Toy Collector knows that nostalgia exists even in the very young when, just as for adults, seeing a toy or picture can instantly bring forward a previously deeply buried memory. The Toy Collector opens to the public on 6 February 2016, at 90 Falsgrave Street. Christchurch New ZealandA range of kit sets, NZ-made collectables and unusual diecast will be available for sale. The Toy Collector can also source harder-to-find items.