Riding my penny-farthing

A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa

Riding back in time on a penny-farthing.

Penny-farthing, pennyfarthing, penny farthing, bicycles, bikes, cycles, cycling, cyclists, sport, exercise, recreation, transport

Arrival in NZ: late 1870s

The penny-farthing bicycle with its large front wheel was first seen in NZ in the late 1870s. (Source: Te Ara) French mechanic Eugene Meyer is credited as having invented the wire-spoke wheels in Paris in 1869. The bicycle's high-wheel design was further modified by Englishman James Starley in Coventry and the bicycle became known as the "ordinary". It was later nicknamed the "penny-farthing" after the British penny and farthing coins - the side-view of the wheels resembles a larger penny leading a smaller farthing. (Source: Wikipedia)

Image: Members of the Pioneer Cycling Club, the Pioneers, on the West Coast Road

Pioneer Cycling Club members on the West Coast Road (1885)

Members of the Pioneer Cycling Club, the Pioneers, on the West Coast Road

Christchurch City Libraries

Early manufacture

As well as being imported, many penny-farthings were made by local blacksmiths, ironmongers or coach builders.

Image: Early bicycle manufacture

Bicycles were produced alongside a variety of types of farm equipment in Palmerston North in the mid-1890s

Early bicycle manufacture

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Out & about

Image: William Woods on his penny farthing

William Woods on his penny farthing

Puke Ariki

Image: Penny-farthing

Penny-farthing

Hawke's Bay Knowledge Bank

Image: Phil Mansell on his penny farthing bicycle

Phil Mansell on his penny farthing bicycle

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Cycling in the Urewera country

Cycling in the Urewera country

Auckland Libraries

Image: Cyclist beside a penny-farthing bicycle near Shag Rock on the Sumner road, Christchurch

Cyclist beside a penny-farthing bicycle near Shag Rock on the Sumner road, Christchurch

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Three unidentified boys, one with an accordian, and another with a penny farthing bicycle, at a campsite, possibly Christchurch district

Three unidentified boys, one with an accordian, and another with a penny farthing bicycle, at a campsite, possibly Christchurch district

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mr Lawson and A J Grave with Bicycle and Penny Farthing

Mr Lawson and A J Grave with Bicycle and Penny Farthing

Waitaki District Council

Image: Algernon Maclean on a pennyfarthing bicycle

Algernon Maclean on a pennyfarthing bicycle

MTG Hawke's Bay

Image: This bicycle carried me 24,000 miles

This bicycle carried me 24,000 miles

Auckland Libraries

Racing competitions

Image: Club road race, 1887

Club road race, 1887

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Cyclists meeting, Dunedin

Cyclists race meeting, Dunedin, 1888

Cyclists meeting, Dunedin

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Pioneer Bicycle Club :Grand interprovincial bicycle races, Boxing Day, Dec. 26, 1890, Lancaster Park, Christchurch. Official programme [Front cover. 1890].

Pioneer Bicycle Club :Grand interprovincial bicycle races, Boxing Day, Dec. 26, 1890, Lancaster Park, Christchurch. Official programme [Front cover...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Noted English cyclists compete in a novel race

Noted English cyclists compete in a novel race

Auckland Libraries

Image: A novelty to the present generation: the old-time roadster which has had to give way to the safety bicycle

A novelty to the present generation: the old-time roadster which has had to give way to the safety bicycle

Auckland Libraries

Image: Fred Wood (of England) comes a cropper

Fred Wood (of England) comes a cropper

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: T.T, WINNER ON "PENNY FARTHING." Graham Walker, who won the Tourist Trophy race for lightweight motor cycles, held at thte Isle of Man, tries his luck on a "penny farthing" machine, while Miss Newton, one of England's youngest competitive riders, tries her hand on a 1931 product. (Ellesmere Guardian, 30 June 1931)

T.T, WINNER ON "PENNY FARTHING." Graham Walker, who won the Tourist Trophy race for lightweight motor cycles, held at thte Isle of Man, tries his l...

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Plaque - Penny Farthing

Plaque - Penny Farthing

Waitaki District Council

Image: Penny farthings, Ōamaru

Penny farthings, Ōamaru

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Southern Story for 10 February 2011 - Penny-farthing champion

NZ's Shane Price training for Australian National Championships, 2011

Southern Story for 10 February 2011 - Penny-farthing champion

Radio New Zealand

Celebrations

Image: YMCA Gymkhana

YMCA Gymkhana, Nelson, 1926

YMCA Gymkhana

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Palmerston North's 75th Jubilee celebration parade

Palmerston North's 25th Jubilee, 1952

Palmerston North's 75th Jubilee celebration parade

Palmerston North City Library

Image: Costumed Men on Pennyfarthings - 1952 Jubilee Celebrations

Costumed Men on Pennyfarthings - 1952 Jubilee Celebrations

Palmerston North City Library

Image: Costumed Men on Pennyfarthings - 1952 Jubilee Celebrations

Costumed Men on Pennyfarthings - 1952 Jubilee Celebrations

Palmerston North City Library

Image: Pohangina School Jubliee" [Man on pennyfarthing]

Pohangina School Jubilee (Manawatū-Whanganui region), 1952

Pohangina School Jubliee" [Man on pennyfarthing]

Palmerston North City Library

Image: Upper Hutt Primary School centenary, 1964

Upper Hutt Primary School centenary, 1964

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: Howick Historical Society members at Bell House.

Howick Historical Society members at Bell House for official opening, 1976

Howick Historical Society members at Bell House.

Howick Historical Village

Image: Peter Ridder on his Penny Farthing

Penny-farthing to appear at local show, 2012

Peter Ridder on his Penny Farthing

Kete Horowhenua

Cycling tours

Image: An early Cycle Club, Oamaru

An early Cycle Club, Oamaru

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Veterans stage a come-back with their old 'penny-farthing' machines in a novel cycle road at Christchurch, Canterbury

Veterans stage a come-back with their old 'penny-farthing' machines in a novel cycle road at Christchurch, Canterbury

Auckland Libraries

Image: Arthur Shaef and group of cyclists with penny-farthing bicycles

Arthur Shaef and group of cyclists with penny-farthing bicycles

MOTAT

Image: Group from the Waitemata Cycling Club

Group from the Waitemata Cycling Club

Auckland Libraries

Image: Vintage bicycles

2007: Riders on vintage bikes commemorating 150 years of settlement in Leithfield

Vintage bicycles

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Vintage Bike Tour Stewart Island to Balclutha 15th nov 2011 (1)

Vintage Bike Tour Stewart Island to Balclutha 15th nov 2011 (1)

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Vintage Bike Tour

Vintage Bike Tour

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Vintage Bike Tour Stewart Island to Balclutha 15th nov 2011 (7)

Vintage Bike Tour Stewart Island to Balclutha 15th nov 2011 (7)

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Penny-farthing rider David Wilson

Interview (Dec 2011) with David Wilson trying to become the first person to cycle from Stewart Island to Cape Reinga

Penny-farthing rider David Wilson

Radio New Zealand

Posing with my penny-farthing

Image: Savage, Mr

Savage, Mr

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Mr N. Hall

Mr N. Hall

Auckland Libraries

Image: Messrs Fenlon and Mayes

Messrs Fenlon and Mayes

Auckland Libraries

Image: Scott

Scott

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: F. Selby

F. Selby

Auckland Libraries

Image: John Edward Brewster

John Edward Brewster

Puke Ariki

Image: Man with penny-farthing bicycle

Man with penny-farthing bicycle

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Frank J Forbes on a penny farthing bicycle

Frank J Forbes on a penny farthing bicycle

Waitaki District Council

Image: Boy with a penny farthing bicycle - Photographer unidentified

Boy with a penny farthing bicycle - Photographer unidentified

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: T B Wallis standing beside a Penny Farthing bicycle

T B Wallis standing beside a Penny Farthing bicycle

Auckland Libraries

Image: Man with a penny farthing bicycle

Man with a penny farthing bicycle

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: John Edmond Hood, Watchmaker and Jeweller, with Penny Farthing and Cups.

John Edmond Hood, Watchmaker and Jeweller, with Penny Farthing and Cups.

Waitaki District Council

Image: Paddy Johnson with pennyfarthing bicycle

Paddy Johnson with pennyfarthing bicycle

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: H A F Jackson, J Alexander and A G Jackson with penny farthing cycles

H A F Jackson, J Alexander and A G Jackson with penny farthing cycles

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Horst Stunzer and penny farthing at Bell House.

Horst Stunzer and penny farthing at Bell House.

Howick Historical Village

Exhibits

Image: Pennyfarthing bicycle

Pennyfarthing bicycle

Thames Museum

Image: Bicycle, Penny Farthing

Bicycle, Penny Farthing

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Bicycle Penny Farthing

Bicycle Penny Farthing

MOTAT

Image: Bicycle Penny Farthing

Bicycle Penny Farthing

MOTAT

Image: Penny Farthing Sculpture

Penny Farthing Sculpture

The Arts House Trust

Image: Penny farthing - Women of the Wheel exhibition

Penny farthing - Women of the Wheel exhibition

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Birkenhead Trust and Pennyfarthing Restaurant, Mokoia Road, Birkenhead.

Birkenhead Trust and Pennyfarthing Restaurant, Mokoia Road, Birkenhead.

Auckland Libraries

FIND OUT MORE

Article

History of cycling in New Zealand

Wikipedia

Article

Cycle racing: Early cycle racing

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Other

Bicycle types

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Newspaper

BONE-SHAKER CYCLES (Evening Post, 04 May 1929)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

NOVEL CYCLE RACE (Evening Post, 26 November 1929)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

CULT OF THE CYCLI (Evening Post, 07 January 1936)

National Library of New Zealand

This DigitalNZ story was updated in March 2025