National Road Transport Hall of Fame |
The National Road Transport Hall of Fame is a transport museum based in Alice Springs, Northern Territory.
The National Road Transport Hall of Fame is an initiative of the Alice Springs-based Road Transport Histrorical Society Inc., a community-based volunteer organisation dedicated to the preservation of Australia's unique road transport heritage. The concept was borne out of concern that most trucks from yesteryear were rusting away on rural properties and cattle stations.
The historical development of settlements such as Alice Springs which relied on receiving goods, supplies, food and much more could not have happened without some serious planning, effort and execution in transporting all of these to such an otherwise remote location.
Shifting from the animal-powered transport of camels above to the man-made, Alice Springs' National Road Transport Hall of Fame is a real-life chronicle of the various vehicles that made its construction and eventual thriving possible - this is one of the most extensive collections of historic cars, trucks and trains in the country.
It's a diverse and eclectic mix of machines on both wheel and rails that's all incredibly well documented and curated, making for an experience that's as educational as it is interesting.
Located roughly a 10 minute drive to the south of the centre of Alice Springs, there's simply so much on display at the National Road Transport Hall of Fame that it's a viable and interesting way to fill in a morning or afternoon, and it's something that both adults and kids (particularly young boys) can enjoy. Many of the vehicles on display here are kept in as "authentic" a condition as possible in order to reflect the actual field repairs that bush mechanics of their time period hard to perform to keep things running under such harsh - and sometimes under-equipped - conditions.
You don't have to be a "truckie" to enjoy a visit here - there are enough general historical artefacts to make the museum worthwhile to anyone, and the amount of information on the history is truly impressive and can keep you occupied for hours.
There's a ton of trucks on display, however, and if it's something you're interested in you'll be in your element here - everything from smaller vehicles to the massive type that is used to pull road trains can be found at the museum, with an entire section dedicated to the Kenworth brand that features models from the past all the way up to 2014. Other trucks and cars - there's even an original 1911 Model T Ford - round out the experience, and the signed curation coupled with the knowledge and friendly/helpful attitude of the attendant staff ensure you'll never be left with unanswered questions on any of the exhibits.
The museum also goes out of its way to recognise the contributions and efforts of the people - not just the vehicles - involved in establishing transportation routes through the barren centre of Australia, which is a nice touch that helps to add more of a "human" element to the exhibition.
The National Road Transport Hall of Fame also has a separate Ghan museum exhibit dedicated to the Old Ghan trains that were used in this part of central Australia. Here, you'll find not only the trains themselves but plenty of old artefacts and memorabilia to look at including old newspaper headlines, photos, tickets and much more.
As one of the most comprehensive transport museums in Australia - a real surprise considering its location in a desert town - it's a must visit for those with any passing interest in Aussie history in general; just make sure you allow yourself enough time to get the most out of your visit.
Opening Hours
Mon - Sun: 9.00am to 5.00pm
Unless otherwise advised
*Entry Fee Applies
❊ Address ❊
⊜ 2 Norris Bell Avenue Arumbera View Map
✆ Telephone: (08) 8952 7161
❊ Web Links ❊
➼ National Road Transport Hall of Fame
➼ www.roadtransporthall.com
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