State Library of South Australia logo Taking it to the edge
SA Memory. South Australia past and present, for the future




Motoring in the Northern Territory
Title : Motoring in the Northern Territory Motoring in the Northern Territory
Add To My SA Memory
Date of creation : 1922
Format : Photograph
Catalogue record
The State Library of South Australia is keen to find out more about SA Memory items. We encourage you to contact the Library if you have additional information about any of these items.
Copyright : Reproduction rights are owned by State Library of South Australia. This image may be printed or saved for research or study. Use for any other purpose requires permission from the State Library of South Australia. To request approval, complete the Permission to publish form.
Description :

The three Dort motor cars on their way to Darwin, Northern Territory. This motorised expedition in 1922 was still very early in the motoring history of Australia, particularly in the Outback where there were no made roads. The expedition was to assess a route for the north/south railway, and consisted of Thomas McCallum, South Australian politician, H Crowder, SA White, naturalist and explorer, and the all-important mechanics Murray and Cyril Aunger.

Murray Aunger and HH Dutton had made a successful north/south crossing of the continent in 1908, so Aunger was experienced in the conditions that would be encountered. Sand hills and desert crossings, were followed by flooded rivers. There were techniques for coping with every condition.

The expedition left Adelaide on 9 May, and reached Darwin on 7 June 1922. SA White was able to collect some natural history specimens along the way. The return route was much longer as the cars were taken back via Cloncurry, Bourke, the Darling River, and Mount Gambier. 8800 kilometres were covered in 10 weeks.
Subjects
Related names :

Aunger, Murray, 1878-1953

McCallum, Thomas, 1860-1938

White, S. A. (Samuel Albert), 1870-1954

Coverage year : 1922
Place : Northern Territory
Further reading :
Linn, Rob Nature's pilgrim: the life and journeys of Captain S.A. White, naturalist, author and conservationist Netley, S. Aust.: South Australian Government Printer, 1989

Davis, Pedr Wheels across Australia: motoring from the 1890s to the 1980s Hurstville, N.S.W.: Marque Publishing, 1987

Internet links :
Exhibitions and events :

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing. Taking it to the edge August 2004-


Navigation

Home

About SA Memory

Explore SA Memory

SA Memory Themes

Search

My SA Memory

Learning

What's on

Contributors