Michael talks to Nick Abrahim, NSW Taxi Council Deputy Chief Executive Officer with today being the 90th anniversary since the introduction of the sedan taxi cab in Sydney.

 

The taxi we know today is based on the taximeter, which was originally invented in 1891 by German Friedrich Wilhelm Gustav Bruhn. A taximeter is an instrument which measures the time or distance a vehicle travels thus allowing a fare to be determined accurately.

 

Australia adopted horse-drawn taxis once cities were established and, in the case of Queensland, Brisbane introduced the first horse-drawn taxis which plied throughout the city.

 

These also included hansom cabs, a more elaborate type with a closed-in cabin for passengers with two small front doors and glass windows and their driver sitting high at the back.

 

Motor taxis were introduced into Australia not long after they were put into service in the United Kingdom and Europe. In 1906 Sydney inaugurated motorised taxis, followed soon after by the other states.

 

Sedan taxis were added 1929 and included similar makes of vehicles. This was the case with all cars being imported into Australia until World War 11, American cars proving more suitable to Australian motoring conditions, especially for taxis.