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Museum of Transport and Technology
The Museum of Transport and Technology (more commonly known as MOTAT) is a transport and technology museum located in Western Springs, Auckland, New Zealand. Established in 1960 and formally opening in 1964 as a location for the preservation of trams and early New Zealand transportation technologies, the museum has large collections of civilian and military aircraft, other land transport vehicles, and includes exhibitions focusing on transportation, science and history. The museum features live exhibits which display working transportation, including the Western Springs tramway, which links the two main sites of the institution, MOTAT Great North Road and the MOTAT Aviation Hall on Motions Road. MOTAT is largely managed by volunteers, supported by full-time professional museum staff.
MOTAT's collections and exhbitions focus on New Zealand technologies and innovations, including transportation, aviation, and work, and involves engaging youth with STEM.
MOTAT is located in the suburb of Western Springs, Auckland, New Zealand. The area of Western Springs near MOTAT was traditionally known by Tāmaki Māori as Te Wai Ōrea, a place known for clear spring water, and a harvesting spot for eels. During the 1830s and 1840s, members of Ngāti Tahinga, Waiohua and Te Taoū of Ngāti Whātua lived in the area. In 1846, Scottish settler William Motion established Low and Motion's Four Mill, which operated until 1875. The land was then bought by the Auckland City Council, who established an artificial lake and built the Western Springs Pumping Station at the site, which sent water to reservoirs in Auckland from 1877. Pumping from the site was gradually phased out from 1907 during the establishment of water reservoirs in the Waitākere Ranges, and completely ceased in 1936.
MOTAT has two locations, both in Western Springs. The first is MOTAT Great North Road, located on the corner of Great North Road and Stadium Road, which is adjacent to Western Springs Reserve. The second is the MOTAT Aviation Hall, located at 98 Motions Road, adjacent to Motions Creek, Western Springs College and Meola Reef. The two locations are connected by the Western Springs Tramway, a tramway operated by MOTAT using heritage trams.
The MOTAT Great North Road site (also known as MOTAT 1) features exhibits include trams, trains, vintage traction engines, carriages, cars, buses, trolleybuses and trucks, particularly fire engines, electrical equipment, space flight exhibits including a Corporal rocket and general science exhibits. The location features the original pumping station, Te Puawānanga Science and Technology Centre, the Walsh Memorial Library, tram barns and workshops, the original Waitākere railway station, which houses model railway exhibitions, and the MOTAT print shop.
MOTAT's pioneer village, set between 1840-1890, features buildings transported from across the Auckland Region, including the original Wainui School house built in 1878, two Fencible cottages, the Chapel of the Good Shepherd (originally St. Saviour's Anglical Church in Blockhouse Bay), and a working blacksmith (the only newly constructed building in the village, stocked with 19th century tools). Adjacent to the pioneer village is a 1920s shopping street.
The MOTAT Aviation Hall (also known as MOTAT 2 or MOTAT Motions Road) was opened in 1977, as the Sir Keith Park Memorial aviation pavilion. The site includes the aviation collection of MOTAT, including Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft, memorials to Fleet Air Arm and RAF Bomber Command pilots, and exhibits on World War II military trucks. The site is also home to MOTAT's rail workshops, which includes the Western Springs Railway, on which live engines have travelled between Waitītiko Station or Sir Keith Park Station since 1982.
Trams are operated daily between MOTAT, alongside the Western Springs Park and precinct, past Auckland Zoo to the MOTAT Aviation Hall and connect both Museum sites. Tramlines on sleepered track set under bitumen were laid within the museum boundaries with trams commencing operation on 16 December 1967. The Museum tramline was later extended beyond the Museum grounds along Great North Road and opened on 19 December 1980. A further extension along Motions Road to Auckland Zoo commenced services on 5 December 1981 using rail set in mass concrete. Between 2006 and 2007 the tram line was further extended by a distance of 636 m (2,087 ft), to the aviation hangar at MOTAT 2, the service commencing on 27 April 2007. The tramway is dual gauge, employing 4-foot and 4-foot 8+1⁄2 inches gauges, the rail welded and set in mass concrete.
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Museum of Transport and Technology
The Museum of Transport and Technology (more commonly known as MOTAT) is a transport and technology museum located in Western Springs, Auckland, New Zealand. Established in 1960 and formally opening in 1964 as a location for the preservation of trams and early New Zealand transportation technologies, the museum has large collections of civilian and military aircraft, other land transport vehicles, and includes exhibitions focusing on transportation, science and history. The museum features live exhibits which display working transportation, including the Western Springs tramway, which links the two main sites of the institution, MOTAT Great North Road and the MOTAT Aviation Hall on Motions Road. MOTAT is largely managed by volunteers, supported by full-time professional museum staff.
MOTAT's collections and exhbitions focus on New Zealand technologies and innovations, including transportation, aviation, and work, and involves engaging youth with STEM.
MOTAT is located in the suburb of Western Springs, Auckland, New Zealand. The area of Western Springs near MOTAT was traditionally known by Tāmaki Māori as Te Wai Ōrea, a place known for clear spring water, and a harvesting spot for eels. During the 1830s and 1840s, members of Ngāti Tahinga, Waiohua and Te Taoū of Ngāti Whātua lived in the area. In 1846, Scottish settler William Motion established Low and Motion's Four Mill, which operated until 1875. The land was then bought by the Auckland City Council, who established an artificial lake and built the Western Springs Pumping Station at the site, which sent water to reservoirs in Auckland from 1877. Pumping from the site was gradually phased out from 1907 during the establishment of water reservoirs in the Waitākere Ranges, and completely ceased in 1936.
MOTAT has two locations, both in Western Springs. The first is MOTAT Great North Road, located on the corner of Great North Road and Stadium Road, which is adjacent to Western Springs Reserve. The second is the MOTAT Aviation Hall, located at 98 Motions Road, adjacent to Motions Creek, Western Springs College and Meola Reef. The two locations are connected by the Western Springs Tramway, a tramway operated by MOTAT using heritage trams.
The MOTAT Great North Road site (also known as MOTAT 1) features exhibits include trams, trains, vintage traction engines, carriages, cars, buses, trolleybuses and trucks, particularly fire engines, electrical equipment, space flight exhibits including a Corporal rocket and general science exhibits. The location features the original pumping station, Te Puawānanga Science and Technology Centre, the Walsh Memorial Library, tram barns and workshops, the original Waitākere railway station, which houses model railway exhibitions, and the MOTAT print shop.
MOTAT's pioneer village, set between 1840-1890, features buildings transported from across the Auckland Region, including the original Wainui School house built in 1878, two Fencible cottages, the Chapel of the Good Shepherd (originally St. Saviour's Anglical Church in Blockhouse Bay), and a working blacksmith (the only newly constructed building in the village, stocked with 19th century tools). Adjacent to the pioneer village is a 1920s shopping street.
The MOTAT Aviation Hall (also known as MOTAT 2 or MOTAT Motions Road) was opened in 1977, as the Sir Keith Park Memorial aviation pavilion. The site includes the aviation collection of MOTAT, including Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft, memorials to Fleet Air Arm and RAF Bomber Command pilots, and exhibits on World War II military trucks. The site is also home to MOTAT's rail workshops, which includes the Western Springs Railway, on which live engines have travelled between Waitītiko Station or Sir Keith Park Station since 1982.
Trams are operated daily between MOTAT, alongside the Western Springs Park and precinct, past Auckland Zoo to the MOTAT Aviation Hall and connect both Museum sites. Tramlines on sleepered track set under bitumen were laid within the museum boundaries with trams commencing operation on 16 December 1967. The Museum tramline was later extended beyond the Museum grounds along Great North Road and opened on 19 December 1980. A further extension along Motions Road to Auckland Zoo commenced services on 5 December 1981 using rail set in mass concrete. Between 2006 and 2007 the tram line was further extended by a distance of 636 m (2,087 ft), to the aviation hangar at MOTAT 2, the service commencing on 27 April 2007. The tramway is dual gauge, employing 4-foot and 4-foot 8+1⁄2 inches gauges, the rail welded and set in mass concrete.
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