Old Invercargill
Today we're kicking off a new weekly Old Invercargill series looking back at the corners, landmarks and everyday places that have shaped our city — and how they've changed over the years.
Every week we'll pair a slice of old Invercargill with the way it looks today, from the buildings we walk past without a second glance to the quirks that make this place ours. Some have vanished, some have been reinvented, and a few have stubbornly stayed put.
We'd love you to come along for the ride — and if you've got a photo, a memory or a "whatever happened to..." you'd like us to chase up, flick it our way.
First up: the famous car-up-a-pole out on State Highway 1.
Invercargill's car-up-a-pole has greeted travellers at the city's northern entrance for at least 62 years. The latest car, a 1973 Morris 1300, is the fourth to perch atop the pole — installed on Friday 3 July.
A three-seater Citroën came first, followed by a 1935 Morris Eight, then a Morris Minor, and now the Morris 1300. The earlier cars advertised the Leven Motor Wrecking Company, while the blue Morris Minor was later repainted to promote Auto Point, a car-trading website. After it all but disintegrated and had to be removed earlier in 2026. The Morris 1300 took its place — this time promoting Retrobowl.
