Horse-drawn vehicles in early Hamilton

A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa

Nostalgic look at horse-drawn buggies, carts and carriages that transported people and goods in early Hamilton

Horses, Buggies, Carts, Vehicles, Carriages, Transport, Hamilton

Image: Fow family outside Masonic Hall

Horse-drawn vehicles in early Hamilton

c.1908: Fow family in a horse-drawn buggy outside the Masonic Hall on Grey Street, Hamilton East

Fow family outside Masonic Hall

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Showing Gwynne's Hamilton Hotel with a...

No date: A coach drawn by 4 horses outside 'Gwynne's Hamilton Hotel' which was run from 1874-1897 by the Gwynne family

Showing Gwynne's Hamilton Hotel with a...

Auckland Libraries

Image: Edward Pearson's carbolic sand soap store

c.1880s: A horse-drawn carriage for 'Gwynne's Hamilton Hotel' outside Pearson's soap manufacturers in Hamilton East

Edward Pearson's carbolic sand soap store

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Royal Hotel

c.1895: A four horse omnibus outside the Royal Hotel on Cook St, Hamilton East

Royal Hotel

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Ladies and children in one-horse buggy.

c.1897: Family in a buggy drawn by two Shetland ponies

Ladies and children in one-horse buggy.

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Horse and cart

c.1900

Horse and cart

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Hamilton Post Offices 4736 Wilson Photo

1900-1910: Outside the Hamilton Post Office which opened on 5 August 1901 after previous timber building burnt down

Hamilton Post Offices 4736 Wilson Photo

Auckland Libraries

Image: Charlotte Elizabeth Douglas

c.1900: A buggy on Victoria Street outside D. Salmon Bootmaker, next to the Bank of New Zealand

Charlotte Elizabeth Douglas

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Grey Sreet, Hamilton East

c.1905: Two horse cart outside James Reid Saddlery in Grey St, Hamilton East

Grey Sreet, Hamilton East

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Sheep being driven along Victoria Street

1906: Sheep being driven on Victoria St by a drover standing in a carriage & another leading a horse with dog alongside

Sheep being driven along Victoria Street

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Horse and buggy

No date: Coachman/driver standing at rear of two wheel horse-drawn buggy

Horse and buggy

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Family group on buggy

No date: Aboard a buggy drawn by four horses

Family group on buggy

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Mrs H. Douglas Driving

No date: Mrs H. Douglas driving a 2 wheeled buggy near railway line (which reached Hamilton from Auckland in 1880)

Mrs H. Douglas Driving

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Victoria Street

c.1907: Horse-back rider herding cattle past carriages & tethered horses

Victoria Street

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Floral fete at Hamilton

1909: Floral fete at Hamilton

Floral fete at Hamilton

Auckland Libraries

Image: "Street Scene, Frankton Junction"

c.1909: Outside store of Sanford Clarke which is also the 'Post Office & Telephone Bureau' in Frankton

"Street Scene, Frankton Junction"

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: James Tombs & Co Ltd. Studebaker on horse drawn cart

1910: James Tombs & Co Ltd. Studebaker on horse drawn cart

James Tombs & Co Ltd. Studebaker on horse drawn cart

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Fanny Edith Maunder & Fanny Stow Maunder

No date: Aboard horse & cart near family's home built c.1911 on present-day Tainui St

Fanny Edith Maunder & Fanny Stow Maunder

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Labour Day parade

1913: Labour Day parade

Labour Day parade

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: C. L. Innes & Co. Ltd. horse drawn cart

c.1915: C. L. Innes & Co. Ltd. horse drawn cart

C. L. Innes & Co. Ltd. horse drawn cart

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Victoria Street Hamilton 4800 Wilson Photo

1910-1919: Travelling along Victoria Street

Victoria Street Hamilton 4800 Wilson Photo

Auckland Libraries

Image: Buggy used for cream delivery

No date: Travelling on a horse-drawn buggy used for cream delivery

Buggy used for cream delivery

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: E Woodward Carrier.

c.1918: Horse pulling a 2-wheeled carriage with sign: 'E Woodward, Carrier'

E Woodward Carrier.

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Horse, wagon, group of people at Hamilton East rifle range

No date: Outing at the Hamilton East rifle range where the Hamilton Gardens are now located

Horse, wagon, group of people at Hamilton East rifle range

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Victoria Street Hamilton 2108 Wilson Photos

1910-1919: Travelling along Victoria St

Victoria Street Hamilton 2108 Wilson Photos

Auckland Libraries

Image: Victoria Street Hamilton

1920s: Horse carts, cars & a cyclist share the roadway down Victoria St

Victoria Street Hamilton

Hamilton City Libraries

This DigitalNZ story was updated in March 2025