The National Transport and Toy Museum in Wānaka, New Zealand is one of the largest private collections in the Southern Hemisphere and displays a large collection of items including over 650 vehicles, 23 aircraft and 100,000 toys plus thousands of miscellaneous items. Owned and operated by one family, the museum is located adjacent to the Wānaka Airport on State Highway 6.
National Transport and Toy Museum
Some of the classic cars and fire trucks at the National Transport and Toy Museum
Former name
Wanaka Transport Museum (1995-1999), Wanaka Transport and Toy Museum (1999–2009)
The main building houses part of the toy collection, notably a very large collection of Star Wars toys and memorabilia, a display of Barbie dolls through the decades, classic wooden and metal toys, as well as teddy bears and porcelain dolls. A toy shop at the entrance also sells a range of modern toys and models.
The collections of vehicles and aircraft are on display in several large hangars. The hangars include a range of vehicles including cars, aircraft, airport ground support, construction vehicles, farm implements, farm tractors, fire engines, military vehicles, motorbikes, scooters and mopeds, pickups, trucks, horse-drawn vehicles, marine vehicles, and a range of additional miscellaneous vehicles.
Outside of the buildings, the displays continue with machinery in various states of restoration, such as a long row of tractors and farming machinery.
The museum has indoor and outdoor playing areas with adult-sized pedal cars, a play area and a range anti-aircraft guns that can be sat and moved by visitors.
Historyedit
The collector, Gerald Rhodes, began collecting in Christchurch in the 1950s. Wānaka was chosen as the site for the museum due to its dry climate, proximity to the Wānaka Airport, and location on the main road (State Highway 6). Building commenced on the museum in 1994 and the museum opened to the public on Boxing Day (26 December 1995 (28 years ago) (1995-12-26)).
The Museum opened with two buildings - The Main building and The Hangar. As the collection grew more buildings were needed and in April 2004 a 1440 m2 building "The Fire Station" was built, 2005 Hangar 2 a 2000 m2 building and in 2023 saw the erection of a 2600sqm Marquee.
On opening the museum was called the Wanaka Transport Museum then as the toy collection grew became the Wanaka Transport & Toy Museum before re-branding in 2010 to the current name of the National Transport and Toy Museum.[1]
Referencesedit
^Cook, Marjorie (20 March 2010). . Otago Daily Times. Allied Press Limited. Archived from the original on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
External linksedit
The National Transport and Toy Museum official site
Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Transport and Toy Museum, Wanaka.
This article related to a museum in New Zealand is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
national, transport, museum, national, transport, museum, wānaka, zealand, largest, private, collections, southern, hemisphere, displays, large, collection, items, including, over, vehicles, aircraft, toys, plus, thousands, miscellaneous, items, owned, operate. The National Transport and Toy Museum in Wanaka New Zealand is one of the largest private collections in the Southern Hemisphere and displays a large collection of items including over 650 vehicles 23 aircraft and 100 000 toys plus thousands of miscellaneous items Owned and operated by one family the museum is located adjacent to the Wanaka Airport on State Highway 6 National Transport and Toy MuseumSome of the classic cars and fire trucks at the National Transport and Toy MuseumFormer nameWanaka Transport Museum 1995 1999 Wanaka Transport and Toy Museum 1999 2009 EstablishedDecember 26 1995 28 years ago 1995 12 26 LocationWanaka New ZealandCoordinates44 43 22 S 169 14 24 E 44 7227 S 169 2400 E 44 7227 169 2400Type Transport museum Toy museum FounderGerald RhodesWebsitewww wbr nttmuseumwanaka wbr co wbr nz The main building houses part of the toy collection notably a very large collection of Star Wars toys and memorabilia a display of Barbie dolls through the decades classic wooden and metal toys as well as teddy bears and porcelain dolls A toy shop at the entrance also sells a range of modern toys and models The collections of vehicles and aircraft are on display in several large hangars The hangars include a range of vehicles including cars aircraft airport ground support construction vehicles farm implements farm tractors fire engines military vehicles motorbikes scooters and mopeds pickups trucks horse drawn vehicles marine vehicles and a range of additional miscellaneous vehicles Outside of the buildings the displays continue with machinery in various states of restoration such as a long row of tractors and farming machinery The museum has indoor and outdoor playing areas with adult sized pedal cars a play area and a range anti aircraft guns that can be sat and moved by visitors History editThe collector Gerald Rhodes began collecting in Christchurch in the 1950s Wanaka was chosen as the site for the museum due to its dry climate proximity to the Wanaka Airport and location on the main road State Highway 6 Building commenced on the museum in 1994 and the museum opened to the public on Boxing Day 26 December 1995 28 years ago 1995 12 26 The Museum opened with two buildings The Main building and The Hangar As the collection grew more buildings were needed and in April 2004 a 1440 m2 building The Fire Station was built 2005 Hangar 2 a 2000 m2 building and in 2023 saw the erection of a 2600sqm Marquee On opening the museum was called the Wanaka Transport Museum then as the toy collection grew became the Wanaka Transport amp Toy Museum before re branding in 2010 to the current name of the National Transport and Toy Museum 1 References edit Cook Marjorie 20 March 2010 Situation Deepens at Transport and Toy Museum Otago Daily Times Allied Press Limited Archived from the original on 22 November 2019 Retrieved 1 April 2014 External links editThe National Transport and Toy Museum official site nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Transport and Toy Museum Wanaka nbsp This article related to a museum in New Zealand is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title National Transport 26 Toy Museum amp oldid 1220469345, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
