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]
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]
Bill Richardson, a Southland businessman, first business was a transport company called Southern Transport. 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]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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]
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 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.
