James Hall Museum of Transport

The James Hall Museum of Transport sits in Pioneers’ Park beside Wemmer Pan in La Rochelle, south of central Johannesburg. Jimmie Hall, a vintage car enthusiast, set it up with the city council in February 1964, and it now holds more than 2,500 items covering every way people have moved around on land in South Africa. It is a good stop for families and anyone who likes machines, and shows a side of the city most visitors miss.

What to expect

The collection is laid out by theme across several halls. Animal-drawn vehicles from about 1870 to 1910 include Cape carts and ox wagons. There are bicycles and penny-farthings, early motorcycles, buses and coaches, and fire engines including a 1913 Merryweather steam pump. The oldest car is a 1900 Clement Panhard, and a 1959 mayoral Rolls-Royce is also on show.

The local transport displays are the most interesting part. You can see rickshaws, which were used in Johannesburg until 1967, a horse-drawn tram from the 1890s, and the last electric double-decker tram, which ran in the city in 1961. The steam vehicle collection is unusual too.

Practical details

The address is Pioneers’ Park, 193 Rosettenville Road, La Rochelle. The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 4:30pm. It is closed on Mondays, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Good Friday and New Year’s Day. There is secure parking inside the grounds, the museum is accessible for disabled visitors, with wheelchairs kept at the entrance, and there are picnic areas. Telephone +27 11 435 9485. Tours for schools, clubs and groups must be booked ahead with the curator of public programmes.

Good to know

The museum depends partly on its Friends group for upkeep, so leave a donation. Allow an hour or two. Wemmer Pan and Pioneers’ Park are next door if children need a run-around afterwards.

Last updated 6 October 2026. Sources: James Hall Museum of Transport, James Hall Museum of Transport, open times, James Hall Museum of Transport, contact and location, Wikipedia.