Bill Richardson's Transport World

While we were staying with Shona, we went into Invercargill to visit the Bill Richardson's Transport World. 

Bill Richardson, a Southland man, built up a trucking business, as well as various other businesses, in New Zealand.  He also amassed a private collection of over 170 trucks.  When Bill Richardson died in 2005 his daughter continued to develop his collection of trucks and cars.  

We first called into see Eric and Ngaire for morning tea and spent a lovely couple of hours sitting in the sunshine, talking and admiring their beautiful garden.  Sadly I did not take any photographs of them or their garden.

We said a reluctant goodbye, and Walter drove Shona, Margaret and me around the corner to the large building which holds the collection of vehicles, plus a magnificent cafe.  Transport World opened in 2015.

The view when we entered the large hall was breathtaking;  high ceilings, shiny floors and highly polished cars parked diagonally in very straight rows.  Talk about paying attention to detail.

A Texaco 1940 Dodge Airflow petrol tanker

Bill Richardson's wish was printed on the wall, 'One day I hope someone loves it enough to carry it on'.

The collection of vehicles in the museum, is one of the best we have ever seen.  Quite an amazing collection.

A few vehicles took me down memory lane, such as the bus in the photo below.  It was almost identical to some of the old school buses that took us to secondary school in Invercargill.

The VW Kombi vans.

The collection was housed in at least three large halls.  We lost count as the halls seemed to go on forever.  Many of the halls were old workshops.  Our brother Eric used to work here when he was young, when they were full of machinery.

As well as vehicles, there were also many old petrol pumps, an activity room for children, plus a movie theatre.

Margaret caught behind bars.  She is still smiling though.

The toilets have themes. I forgot to go into the ones at the front of the building, which Walter said had oil pumps for taps.   Apparently there are one way mirrors which look out into the museum.

The toilets at the side had a lego theme.

A face on the lid to remind people to put the lid down.

On a mezzanine floor there was a Wearable Arts Collection.

Each item was made out of waste materials, or unusual fabrics.  They were very creative.  All of the clothes had been worn in a parade.

The dress on the right in the photograph below had been made with bread bag closures.

We also ate a delicious lunch in the busy cafe.

A great day out together.