Transport World (original) (raw)

Transport World

Formation December 2015; 9 years ago (2015-12)
Founder Bill Richardson
Founded at Dart Street, Invercargill, New Zealand
Type Transport attraction
Purpose Display collection, attraction, education, events
Location 491 Tay Street, Invercargill, New Zealand
Owners Jocelyn and Scott O'Donnell
Parent organization HWR Group[1]
Affiliations Bill Richardson Transport World Classic Motorcycle Mecca
Website transportworld.nz

Bill Richardson Transport World

Bill Richardson Transport World
Map
Former name Bill Richardson Truck Museum
Established December 2015; 9 years ago (2015-12)
Location 491 Tay Street, Invercargill, New Zealand
Type Transport attraction
Collections Vehicles, machinery, petrol pumps, transport memorabilia, wearable art, social history
Founder Bill Richardson
Director Jocelyn O'Donnell
Curator Graeme Williams
Owner Jocelyn and Scott O'Donnell
Website transportworld.co.nz

Transport World is a tourism organisation located in Invercargill, New Zealand. It is has four branches: Bill Richardson Transport World, Classic Motorcycle Mecca, Lodges at Transport World, and Dig this Invercargill. Bill Richardson Transport World and Classic Motorcycle Mecca are transport displays, showcasing over 300 vintage vehicles alongside relevant interactive activities.[2] The Lodges At Transport World are boutique apartment accommodations and Dig This Invercargill is an attraction that allows tourists to operate diggers and heavy construction equipment.

Bill Richardson Transport World

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Bill Richardson Transport World is a 15,000 square metres (160,000 sq ft) complex of vehicles and transport-related objects.[3] It also has a construction zone for children, a library with a focus on transport and manuals, and an events and conference centre. Bill Richardson Transport World also displays wearable arts and social history objects. A highlight of the display is a rare 1940 Dodge Airflow truck.[4] The facility includes a restaurant, The Grille Café.

Bill Richardson, a Southland businessman, had a transport company called Southern Transport as his first business. Under his guidance, it grew into the HWR Group. When he bought trucks for the business, he had to concede that sometimes he, in his words, "bought a truck more with our hearts than with our heads." Transport World's collection began in 1967 when Bill Richardson began collecting old trucks, which by the time of his death in 2005 had grown to 150 vehicles including both trucks and farm vehicles.[5] He also collected petrol pumps and other transport-related memorabilia, such as signs and toy models. In 2015, Richardson's daughter Jocelyn and her husband Scott O'Donnell decided to open up the collection to the public. A new extension was built and in November 2015 Bill Richardson Transport World was opened.[_citation needed_]

Bill and his family collected many rare and unusual vehicles, along with popular classic vehicles. The collection spans from a 1904 Ford Ac car to a 2016 Dub Box caravan.

Collections focus on:

Most of the vehicles in Bill Richardson Transport World are rare, unusual or significant.

Highlights include:

The following exhibitions are on display at Bill Richardson Transport World:

Interactive elements

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Bill Richardson Transport World has several interactive elements to its attraction:

Classic Motorcycle Mecca

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Classic Motorcycle Mecca is a motorcycle museum housed in three floors of restored buildings in the Invercargill central business district. Classic Motorcycle Mecca also displays motorcycle-related artwork.

Classic Motorcycle Mecca's collection began in 2008 when Tom Sturgess purchased a 1965 Triumph Cub. By 2014 he had nearly 300 motorcycles and over 80 pieces of motorcycle-related art.[13] In 2016 Tom and Heather Sturgess, owners of NZ Classic Motorcycles, put their motorcycle collection up for sale.[14] Joc and Scott O'Donnell bought most of the bikes and art and moved the collection to two old restored warehouses in Invercargill's CBD. It opened in late 2016.[15]

The motorcycles on display at Classic Motorcycle Mecca range in age from a 1902 Motosacoche to a one-of-a-kind 2007 Vincent Black Shadow.

Highlights include:

Highlights include the La Motosacoche – Brevetée en Tous Pays Poster and numerous pieces from the early 20th century.

The Lodges At Transport World

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The Lodges at Transport World are boutique accommodations for visitors, consisting of 6 two bedroom apartments. The Lodges were opened in mid-2017 and are managed by Graeme and Esther Bradford.[_citation needed_]

Dig This Invercargill

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Dig This Invercargill is based on the successful Dig This Las Vegas attraction. It allows anyone to operate diggers and heavy construction equipment in a safe and controlled environment. It was opened on 14th November 2017.[_citation needed_] It is currently closed for a refresh, which is expected to be finished by the end of 2024.

  1. ^ "About HWR". HWR Group. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Bill Richardson Transport World | Activity in Southland, New Zealand". www.newzealand.com. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  3. ^ Leonov, Tatyana (6 October 2019). "Driving passion in Invercargill". The Canberra Times. p. 43. ProQuest 2300968557.
  4. ^ "Fits the Bill". The New Zealand Herald. 7 December 2024. p. F.8. ProQuest 3141428737.
  5. ^ Richardson, Bill (1999). Clive Lind (ed.). Wheels & Deals. Invercargill: Craig Printing Co, Ltd. ISBN 047306278X.
  6. ^ Lyons, Dan (11 March 2013). "Rear View Mirror: Dodge Airflow Tanker". timesunion. Archived from the original on 16 March 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  7. ^ Clive Lind, ed. (2006). Trucks: A vintage collection. Invercargill: Craig Printing Co, Ltd. ISBN 0908629672.
  8. ^ Strohl, Daniel (25 September 2011). "SIA Flashback – 1939 Dodge Airflow Truck: Streamlining Goes Heavy-Duty". Hemmings Blog. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  9. ^ Clive Lind, ed. (2006). Trucks: A vintage collection. Invercargill: Craig Printing Co, Ltd. ISBN 0908629672.
  10. ^ Clive Lind, ed. (2006). Trucks: A vintage collection. Invercargill: Craig Printing Co, Ltd. ISBN 0908629672.
  11. ^ Transport World (18 May 2017). "George Begg race car zooms in". Transport World. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  12. ^ Nicholl, Dave (2 February 2017). "Pork Pie stars wrap tour and unveil movie exhibition at Transport World". Southland Times. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  13. ^ Moore, Bill (17 February 2016). "Sturgess to close his 300-motorcycle Nelson collection". Stuff.co.nz. Fairfax. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  14. ^ Moore, Bill (17 May 2016). "Nelson's NZ Classic Motorcycles to move to Invercargill". Stuff. Fairfax. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  15. ^ Media Release (23 November 2016). "Classic Motorcycle Mecca officially open!". Scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 22 March 2016.

46°24′36.73″S 168°22′50.7″E / 46.4102028°S 168.380750°E / -46.4102028; 168.380750