Take a stroll down 1950s Queen Street, and transport yourself back to the decade that changed Auckland and New Zealand forever...
I Am The Last Tram is a 1950s love story in which Aucklanders express their undying affection for the Queen, embrace the motorcar, are seduced by the suburban dream and farewell the faithful tram system.
Experience the tears, laughter, tragedies, global and political milestones, changes to traditional society, technological advances, and transportation breakthroughs that shaped New Zealand into the nation we know and love today.
Exhibition entry comes as part of your MOTAT admission fee.
Group bookings / guided tours - ph: 09 815 5808 email: bookings@motat.org.nz
Background
MOTAT's new ‘I Am The Last Tram' exhibition is a nod to the nifty fifties, offering visitors a snapshot of Auckland in a time of postwar transformation. The exhibition showcases changes to traditional society, youth culture, global and political milestones and the tragedies that gripped a nation during the 1950s.
Tram 89 is the centerpiece of the exhibition.
Robyn Winks, Exhibition Manager at MOTAT, says "As tram 242 was demolished in 2006 we have set out to keep its memory alive through repainting and redecorating tram 89. It is a faithful reproduction of how the last tram looked on the 29th December 1956 as it made its final trip along the streets of Auckland."
Like most of the trams in the Auckland fleet, tram 242 was stripped of its brass and metal fittings and sold as a Kiwi bach. This veteran of Auckland commuting was eventually used at Turakina Beach near Wanganui as a seaside holiday home.
The tram also houses ‘A Fond Farewell' photo exhibition, which displays some of the photos taken by Graham Stewart on tram 242's last day, a number of which have not been published previously.
In ‘I Am The Last Tram' exhibition, MOTAT also explores various aspects of life in Auckland during the fifties such as the youth culture of the day, in a recreation of the popular ‘bodgies and widgies' milk-bar haunt - Somervells on Queen Street. Visitors can slip into the retro booths and enjoy the sounds of the era playing from the jukebox or read about the milk bar murders and famous Parker and Hulme case.
Delve into the trials and tribulations of Auckland's motorists during the fifties, where significant changes were made with the construction of the Harbour Bridge, extending motorways and burgeoning suburbs as Aucklanders embraced the suburban dream. The increasing numbers of Kiwis being able to afford private vehicles meant the beginning of the end for the beloved tram system.
Visitors to the exhibition can also stroll along MOTAT's recreation of Queen Street, which includes replicas of the Civic Theatre, complete with 1950s movie theatre, and Auckland's longest standing department store - Smith & Caughey's.
"MOTAT is thrilled to showcase these historic artefacts and to support Auckland heritage. We are pleased to be doing our part in bringing to life the stories and traditions that have made New Zealanders who they are today," Ms Winks said.
