Wikipedia

Transport World

Transport World is an organisation that invests in New Zealand tourism, located in Invercargill. It is sectioned into four production 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. The Bill Richardson Transport World and Classic Motorcycle Mecca sites both include a restaurant and café; The Grille Café, located at Bill Richardson Transport World, and the Meccaspresso Café, located at the Classic Motorcycle Mecca.[citation needed]

Transport World
FormationDecember 2015; 8 years ago (2015-12)
FounderBill Richardson
Founded atDart Street, Invercargill, New Zealand
TypeTransport attraction
PurposeDisplay collection, attraction, education, events
Location
OwnersJocelyn and Scott O'Donnell
Parent organization
HWR Group
AffiliationsBill Richardson Transport World Classic Motorcycle Mecca
Websitetransportworld.nz
Bill Richardson Transport World
Bill Richardson Transport World
Map
Former name
Bill Richardson Truck Museum
EstablishedDecember 2015; 8 years ago (2015-12)
Location491 Tay Street, Invercargill, New Zealand
TypeTransport attraction
CollectionsVehicles, machinery, petrol pumps, transport memorabilia, wearable art, social history
FounderBill Richardson
DirectorJocelyn O'Donnell
CuratorGraeme Williams
OwnerJocelyn and Scott O'Donnell
Websitetransportworld.co.nz
Classic Motorcycle Mecca
Map
Former name
NZ Classic Motorcycles
Established23 November 2016 (2016-11-23)[1]
Location25 Tay Street, Invercargill, New Zealand
TypeMotorcycle collection
CollectionsApprox. 300 motorcycles and 80 motorcycle-related artworks
FounderTom Burgess
DirectorJocelyn O'Donnell
OwnerScott and Jocelyn O'Donnell
Websitetransportworld.nz

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. 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. Some highlights of their displays include three out of four of John Britten's bikes, including the V1000 Cardinal and a rare 1940 Dodge Airflow truck.[citation needed]

Background

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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.[3] 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]

Collections

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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:

  • American pre and post-war trucks
  • British post-war trucks
  • Kombi vans
  • Pre-Model T Ford cars
  • Ford V8 cars
  • Classic and modern race cars
  • HWR company trucks
  • Agricultural tractors and machinery

Vehicle highlights

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

Highlights include:

  • A 1940 Dodge RX70 Airflow truck: This is one of only several hundred made[4][5] and one of only three known to be restored in the world.[6]
  • 1914 Stewart 1 ton truck: This truck was built by the Stewart Iron Works of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA who made trucks from 1912 to 1916. This is the only truck of this make believed to exist.[7]
  • 1932 Mack BG: the first truck to use the Mack Bulldog mascot. 2904 units of this model were made.[8]
  • 1907 Ford Model K car
  • 1924 Gotfredson 20B truck
  • 1936 Maple Leaf HY: Unusual make, a Chevrolet made in Canada with a Maple Leaf badge on it.
  • 1962 Kenworth Log Skidder
  • 1974 Begg 018 Formula 5000[9]

Exhibitions

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

  • Pork Pie Corner: an exhibit displaying extra footage from the 2017 Pork Pie movie and real movie props, including the 2016 Mini Cooper S used during filming in Invercargill.[10]
  • Richardson Family story: It tells the story of the Richardson family from when they first came to New Zealand several generations ago to the present day. It also tells the story of life in early New Zealand and Southland business.
  • Ford exhibition: exhibit about the Ford Motor Company and Henry Ford.
  • Mobil exhibition: tells the story of Mobil's history, from its beginnings as Standard Oil to its present structure as ExxonMobil. This is included in Transport World because HWR is the New Zealand distributor for Mobil.
  • Wearable Art: gallery showcasing wearable art pieces from FibreOctave, an Invercargill event.

Interactive elements

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

  • Construction Zone: children's room full of Lego and tablets with educational games.
  • Pork Pie Police car: a real decommissioned police car used during the filming of Pork Pie. One of the only decommissioned police cars with accessories still attached.
  • Replica Goodbye Pork Pie 1978 British Leyland Mini 1000 car: has been reconstructed as it appeared at the end of the movie, with many parts missing.
  • Jail Scene: 1925 Ford TT Replica Paddy Wagon and mock jail set with dress ups for children. People can access the back to recreate what it was like for a prisoner.
  • Majestic Theatre: a replica of Invercargill's Majestic Theatre that plays old movies.

Classic Motorcycle Mecca

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Classic Motorcycle Mecca is a display of motorcycles showcased over two floors of a restored warehouse in Invercargill's CBD. Classic Motorcycle Mecca also displays motorcycle-related artwork.

Background

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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.[11] In 2016 Tom and Heather Sturgess, owners of NZ Classic Motorcycles, put their motorcycle collection up for sale.[12] 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.[13]

Motorcycles

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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:

  • 1930 Henderson KJ
  • 1937 Brough Superior SS100
  • 1928 Indian 101
  • 1928 Indian Scout
  • 1941 Indian Chief
  • Six Norton Manx bikes
  • Several BMW R series
  • Four Ariel Square Fours
  • 1960 BSA Super Rocket Gold Star
  • 1936 Harley Davidson Knucklehead

Artwork

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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.

References

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