The company directors responsible for the development of the Bill Richardson Transport World in Invercargill have purchased a collection of classic motorcycles, art, and memorabilia to create another attraction.
HWR Group directors Scott O’Donnell and his wife Jocelyn, (the daughter of the late Bill Richardson) have purchased Tom and Heather Sturgess’ New Zealand Classic Motorcycle collection of almost 300 motorcycles, plus motorcycle-focused art.
The collection features items such as 1902 Peugeot motorcycle to a 21st-century Simms Corbin Custom, as well as brands such as Harley-Davidson, Indian, Matchless, Rudge, Schwinn, and Zundapp.
It will move from its current home at a purpose built museum in Nelson. Sturges is closing the museum due to a cancer battle.
According to the Southland Times, the O’Donnells will house the motorcycle collection in another HWR Group-owned building in Invercargill’s central business district.
Bill Richardson Transport World was opened in December, building on the truck and transport memorabilia collected by him. It displays more than 300 vehicles and 200 fuel pumps, as well as other exhibits, a cafe and conference centre.
O’Donnell told the Southland Times that he and his wife Jocelyn believed the multi-million dollar collection was a perfect complement to transport world and Invercargill’s links with motorbikes through Burt Munro and the annual Burt Munro Motorcycle Challenge.
“The region is now home to three of the best-wheeled attractions in the country -Transport World, E Hayes & Sons and [this]. Transport can be Invercargill’s tourism point of difference. It is up to us now to build on that with special events,” says O’Donnell.
O’Donnell says the display may house in either the old H&J Smith Outdoor World shop or the former nightclub building next door in Tay St, both owned by the Richardson Group. The exact location is not yet final.
