Desert Highways

[disco man]

Early this morning i saw a very interesting doco about Len Beadell. I must admit i had never heard of him or his brilliance. What he and his team did in brutal conditions is nothing short of incredible.

The footage covers a convoy travelling along the desert highways constructed by Len's team such as Gunbarrel highway,Gary highway,Sandy Blight junction road, also the Anne Beadell highway,Atomic test sites,Connie sue highway.

Some of the terrain and conditions that his trusty series 1 put up with would test for more modern 4X4's. Conditions so hot it caused vapour lock of his fuel lines with him needing to pour water over them to keep going.

The skill needed to pinpoint his position with the sun and stars and moon is awesome.The way the military used his skill to survey the Woomera site and Giles weather station was very smart. IMO i think Len was maybe the last Australian explorer to open up the red center.

When the doco was over i felt like grabbing the keys to the disco and head for the desert.:D

[Slugbait]

What channel was it on

[ramblingboy42]

and he wore bobnail boots without socks.......

[digger]

and he wore bobnail boots without socks.......

Actually , he wore Hobnail boots... :)

Yes a true legend, lots of books and docos to watch about him, a lot of the tracks and roads he surveyed are still in use even with todays better technology etc they havent found a better route than he set up.

[ramblingboy42]

sorry I missed the capital h but hit b with my smooth typing technique.

he also wore shorts (spelt correctly Digger!)

I dont know how kept the prickles out.

he really deserves to be immortalised.

[JDNSW]

He wrote a number of books, starting with 'Too Long in the Bush', all of which I have owned since their original publication. (I don't think I have missed any)

Get hold of and read them willl give you the best appreciation of the man.

John

[digger]

sorry I missed the capital h but hit b with my smooth typing technique.

he also wore shorts (spelt correctly Digger!)

I dont know how kept the prickles out.

he really deserves to be immortalised.

I know it was a typo... but I wouldnt feel
right if I didn't have a dig!!!:twisted:

[vnx205]

Other titles include:
A Lifetime in the Bush
Blast the Bush
Bush Bashers
Still in the Bush
Beating About the Bush
and
End of an Era

I have them as a boxed set published by New Holland

[disco man]

Other titles include:
A Lifetime in the Bush
Blast the Bush
Bush Bashers
Still in the Bush
Beating About the Bush
and
End of an Era

I have them as a boxed set published by New Holland

This one was called Desert Highways The Roads Of Len Beadell.

[Ausfree]

i
Other titles include:
A Lifetime in the Bush
Blast the Bush
Bush Bashers
Still in the Bush
Beating About the Bush
and
End of an Era

I have them as a boxed set published by New Holland

Yeah, I own this one. It's a good read, a truly marvelous man.:)

[Saitch]

There's a CD available of one of his last talks. I've got it somewhere so when I find it in my "Filing System" I'll put the name up. Being in the same profession as Len I've found it a great experience to have been able to travel a few of his roads. Truly a great Aussie!
Steve

[digger]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/06/1263.jpg

on the right

[One Disco]

Len was built in the same way as Jeff Carter, whom everyone should also learn about in school. Jeff wrote many books, owned Land Rovers after his Peugeot 'lorry' and Holden 'utes' couldn't cope with the outback. Jeff Carter worked with Len on some projects, and Jeff Carter's books are excellent also. I would welcome any links to work by either man. The Carters made a doc series called (I think) Wild Country, for Channel Nine. I've surfed for it to no avail. I'd be happy to chat to anyone who has film footage by either man.

Glad to hear someone else appreciates the work of Len

[digger]

12 Jul 1967 - OUTBACK OUT OF BOUNDS TO SURVEYOR-AUTHOR Fellow-... (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/47226828'searchTerm=) len beadell&searchLimits=

this is an article in the womens weekly that has some interesting bits in it about Len. And as the article points out Anne, his wife, was a looker!

[Bess]

Len's books are truly inspiring . How he managed & survived some of his recy trips is testament to his skills & endurance. I would agree he was one of the last great Australian explorers & his efforts & exploits should be admired & taught in our schools along with other great Australians.:TakeABow:
What an amazing time it must have been.
Regards Chris.

[UncleHo]

I have the boxed set of his books, a birthday present from "the Management" :) and I am aware that one of his highways is named after his daughter,"Connie Sue"highway, and I think one after his wife Anne.

I went to a talk given by him in the late 80's early 90's on the Sunshine Coast,what an interesting person.

cheers

[Hogarthde]

Two books gratis......Blast the Bush,..setting up of Emu & Maralinga for British Nuclear Testing Programme and Lifetime in the Bush ...the biography of Len.

[disco man]

Len's books are truly inspiring . How he managed & survived some of his recy trips is testament to his skills & endurance. I would agree he was one of the last great Australian explorers & his efforts & exploits should be admired & taught in our schools along with other great Australians.:TakeABow:
What an amazing time it must have been.
Regards Chris.

spot on mate very well said:)

[Don 130]

This link seems to have a good round-up of info on Len and his exploits.

A Tribute to Len Beadell (http://www.landroverclub.net/Club/HTML/Beadell.htm)

Don.

[ramblingboy42]

I know it was a typo... but I wouldnt feel
right if I didn't have a dig!!!:twisted:

yeah I know dig......ger:)

[DiscoMick]

His books are great and he's a true legend.

Sent from my D1 using overweight hamsters.

[bob10]

If you get to Giles Met station, you should see the grader that graded the gunbarrel hwy. At least , it was there about 1982. Bob


Australia - The Lonely Gunbarrel Highway - YouTube (http://youtu.be/QvS_TIDOumY)

[disco man]

If you get to Giles Met station, you should see the grader that graded the gunbarrel hwy. At least , it was there about 1982. Bob


Australia - The Lonely Gunbarrel Highway - YouTube (http://youtu.be/QvS_TIDOumY)

Right you are Bob.The program i was watching showed the old grader under a car port,The was a V8 Landcruiser ute in the film and they started production in 2007 ( i think) so the film must be fairly recent.

[nugge t]

A true legend and gentleman to boot. I have done all of his highways/tracks that you can still do, over the last couple of years in my 110 and was in constant amazement at his feats.

Sadly some of the tracks are becoming graded highways but it is amazing how others have endured the test of time.

One of the things which set Len apart was the way in which he specifically set his roads with future travellers in mind to ensure they shared the beauty/feature that he enjoyed.