| Transport World | |
| Founder: | Bill Richardson |
| Founding Location: | 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 |
| Affiliations: | Bill Richardson Transport WorldClassic Motorcycle Mecca |
| Bill Richardson Transport World | |
| Former Name: | Bill Richardson Truck Museum |
| 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 |
| Classic Motorcycle Mecca | |
| Former Name: | NZ Classic Motorcycles |
| Established: | [1] |
| Location: | 25 Tay Street, Invercargill, New Zealand |
| Type: | Motorcycle collection |
| Collections: | Approx. 300 motorcycles and 80 motorcycle-related artworks |
| Founder: | Tom Burgess |
| Director: | Jocelyn O'Donnell |
| Owner: | Scott and Jocelyn O'Donnell |
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.
Bill Richardson Transport World is a 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.
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.
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:
Bill Richardson Transport World has several interactive elements to its attraction:
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 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 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.
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. It is currently closed for a refresh, which is expected to be finished by the end of 2024.