Story: Childhood

Racing trolley, 1957 (1st of 4)

Racing trolley, 1957

Boys aboard racing trolleys or go-carts were a common sight on suburban streets in mid-20th-century New Zealand. Carts were one of the icons of childhood at this time. Most were home-made. This fine specimen in Naenae, Lower Hutt, is constructed from wood and hessian sugar sacks. The wheels were probably salvaged from an old pram. The reasonably flat, even streets of Naenae in a northerly breeze would have made the perfect race track.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Evening Post Collection (PAColl-0614)
Reference: PAColl-7796-89
Photograph by C. Wilson

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'Childhood - Play and recreation', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/26269/racing-trolley-1957 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 12 Dec 2018