Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms From the Brisbane Courier, 18 sep 1914

ACROSS AUSTRALIA IN A MOTOR CAR.

Mr Francis Birtles has just completed the longest and most venturesome journey ever undertaken in a motor car in Australia. It will be remembered that some little time ago, in a 20-h.p. "Ford" touring car, Birtles drove across Australia from the Gulf of Carpentaria to Melbourne a distance of 3500 miles, in the short space of 21 days without trouble of any description. Birtles has eclipsed this performance by driving across Australia from Melbourne to Port Darwin and back again to Melbourne, a distance of 6500 miles. In the same car as was used by him on the journey first mentioned. Birtles left Melbourne on Good Friday driving across to Sydney where he picked up Mr Frank Hurley (whom it may be mentioned accompanied Mawsons Antarctic expedition as photographer). With upwards of 8cwt. of stores, camping gear, &c., they drove through the north-west portion of New South Wales, crossing the border of Queensland via Cunnamulla, thence through Thargomindah, Betoota, Boulia, Camooweal, Burketown, and across the Northern Territory to Port Darwin, where, after a stay of ten days, they commenced their return journey via Burketown and through Western Queensland, New South Wales, back to Sydney and on to Melbourne.

Though they encountered many trying experiences and untold difficulties owing to the rough, barren country, devoid of roads, it speaks well for the "Ford" car that this long and trying journey should have been accomplished without trouble of any kind.

During the journey across the Northern Territory Birtles reports having passed a motor car which had been abandoned owing to its inability to negotiate the heavy sand. The Queensland Motor Agency, Ltd., agents for the "Ford" cars, advises that the "Ford" used by Birtles is the ordinary standard touring car, and that it speaks well for the wonderful efficiency of this popular car, which attained success in the reliability trials from Melbourne to Sydney, held by the automobile clubs of Melbourne and Sydney, and also the record for petrol mileage recently put up by Mr. Sagar in the test held by the Brisbane Automobile Club, when a "Ford" touring car with four passengers on board travelled 40 miles on one gallon of petrol. This, combined with the extremely low price of "Ford" cars, the agents add, perhaps accounts for the fact that they are what their designers intended them to be - "The Universal Car." Notwithstanding the disruption of business on account of the war the Queensland Motor Agency announce, that it is selling on an average one "Ford" car per day.



http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/19984404

Burke & Wills eat your hearts out.

This man is an adventurer extrordinaire, He also drove a Bean from london to Melbourne and around australia several times (see another thread I think What car is this) and an Oldsmobile as well. A man who crossed Australia more than 70 times in the early part of the 20th century - by bicycle and car.

In 1927 he achieved the greatest motoring feat of the times, driving a car from London to Melbourne. The book by Warren Brown follows his exploits across scorching Arabic deserts, through steamy Indian jungles and mountain snowstorms.

In between these journeys he made a collection of documentaries and films of his encounters with the outback. He documented his exploration of Australia in his book, BATTLEFRONTS OF OUTBACK. He eventually travelled to the Northern Territory in search of gold and retired a wealthy man.

Dont know if he ever drove a Morgan

Thanks for posting.

That era produced some extraordinary people who took real risk and responsibility for themselves - no health and safety

No Land Rovers either!

or jeeps

Great post.

In a similar vein is the story about how Jack Bowers and and a friend circled Australia in 1929, the very first by motorcycle on a Harley-Davidson-Sidecar. Jack and Frank made their own roads and shot their own meals on the road with the outfit. Jack wrote a small book, now out of print but you can find copies on the net, "Around Australia the hard way in 1929"

Great story thanks for sharing.

As good as my new Fiesta Diesel is I don't think it would make it without being plugged into a laptop and spoken to