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Story: Public transport

Motorbus

Image
Motorbus

Public motor bus services began in the first decade of the 20th century and gradually took over from trams. An early bus on a route linking Blockhouse Bay and Avondale with Pitt St in downtown Auckland is shown in this William A. Price photograph from the 1910s. The man at the left is the conductor, with his bag for fares – and he is possibly the driver as well.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, William Archer Price Collection (PAColl-3057)

Reference: 1/2-000769; G

by William Archer Price

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

Adrian Humphris, Public transport – Buses, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/22517/motorbus (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Adrian Humphris, published 12 April 2010.