Bill Richardson Transport World

Bill Richardson ran a Southland transport business and collected trucks; by the time he died in 2005 he had gathered around a hundred and fifty vehicles, trucks and farm machines, and his daughter Jocelyn O'Donnell opened the collection to the public in 2015 in a purpose-built 15,000-square-metre building. The Ford collection is the claim to fame - reportedly the largest privately held display of Ford trucks anywhere - but the range runs wider: American and British trucks, wreckers, a hall of restored petrol pumps and enamel signage, a Lettering and Sign Room, and a working restoration workshop visible from the floor. Even the toilets are themed, which visitors mention more than anything else. A sister site, Classic Motorcycle Mecca, holds around three hundred bikes in the city centre. Invercargill is a long way from anywhere and this is the main reason many people stop.

History

Bill Richardson's first business was Southern Transport, which grew into the HWR Group, and in 1967 he began collecting old trucks; by his death in 2005 he had 150 vehicles, along with petrol pumps, signs and toy models. His daughter Jocelyn and her husband Scott O'Donnell opened the collection to the public in November 2015 in an art deco-styled building on Tay Street (Wikipedia, Bill Richardson Transport World).

What's there

• The Ford collection - said to be the largest private display of its kind.
• The petrol memorabilia - restored pumps, signage and forecourt fittings.
• The restoration workshop - visible work in progress on the floor.
• The themed rooms - including the much-discussed toilets.

When to go

Any season; entirely indoors, which matters in Southland. Allow longer than expected - the building is large. Combined tickets with the motorcycle museum are better value.

What to expect

Large enough to take half a day if you are interested and forty minutes if you are not - this is a specialist collection. Priced as a full attraction. Invercargill is a long drive from the main tourist routes.

Nearby

Classic Motorcycle Mecca is in the city centre; Bluff is 30 kilometres south.

Key facts