The doors of the huge vehicle transporter opened to reveal row on row of motorcycles, dozens of carefully stacked and neatly wrapped transport-themed artworks and two classic racing cars.
It was the first of 14 truckloads of items from the Nelson Classic Motorcycle Collection bought by Mrs O'Donnell and her husband Scott last month.
‘‘It's pretty exciting, actually,'' Mrs O'Donnell said.
‘‘I had never taken too much notice of motorcycles before but it's a really, really beautiful collection. There are some gorgeous bikes. I'm looking forward to setting it up and displaying it.''
The O'Donnells are renovating an old shop in Tay St, in Invercargill's CBD, to house the collection and will operate it as a complementary business to Bill Richardson Transport World, owned by HW Richardson Group, which has attracted more than 25,000 visitors since it opened in December. Mrs O'Donnell is the late Bill Richardson's daughter and both the O'Donnells are directors of the family-owned company.
The motorcycle collection, previously owned and displayed by Nelson businessman Tom Sturgess, who sold it because of ill health, is considered world-class. It comprises almost 300 bikes ranging from a 1902 Peugeot motorcycle to a 21st-century Simms Corbin Custom, as well as brands such as Harley-Davidson, Indian, Matchless, Rudge, Schwinn and Zundapp. Three John Britten bikes on loan to Mr Sturgess will also come south, on loan to the O'Donnells.
There are also five vehicles in the collection which will be displayed at Transport World.
The items would be stored until the new attraction opened, Mrs O'Donnell said.
She said it was hoped to have the display open in time for the Burt Munro Challenge weekend in late November.
