landy on a pole

[eddiec]

Had to share this photo, as it was just too fortuitous!

Was taken on our proud drive back from Adelaide to Melbourne a month or so ago, after picking up Greg, our yellow 96 Defender, which is our first Land Rover purchase - and our first real long drive in a Defender...

So it was just too amazing, just as were getting the hang of it and beginning to enjoy the sounds and smells :p to see this by the side of the road!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/11/175.jpg

We took it as a sign that we'd made the right decision!

I think this has been mentioned before on this forum, but it is a remarkable sight, and a true tribute!

[mcrover]

Thats my favorate town in oz, Kieth.....:D

I got a few photo's of it last time we were there.

I recon it is the best name for a town but then again, I have a strange sense of humor but I could just imagine how it was named :D:D:D

[eddiec]

Totally agree about the name...

"Where do you live?"
"Keith."

perfect :D

despite having driven that road a zillion times, we'd never really stopped to look at these places. This time we had the excuse of wanting to take our time, plus we'd just got into geocaching, which forced a stop in Keith (right near that awesome playground), as well as Pink Lake, which is a sight in itself!

[Quiggers]

Frankly, Keith should have a more Aussie name,

like Keith Keith.:D

Nice pic!

GQ

[RonMcGr]

Ah yes, Keith, my home town.
It is part of the Tatiara Council, originally known as the 90 mile desert. The name came from the home town of the Governor of South Australia, in 1889. That being Keith in the far north east od Scotland.

Other towns/areas include, Bordertown, Mundulla, Padthaway, Wolseley, Willalooka and Western Flat.

We had a farm in Willalooka. There is a road that branches off Willalooka to Bordertown, called McGrice Road. It was named after my Father who spent 20-25 years on the council, many as the council chairman.

[RonMcGr]

BTW, there are other photo's of that Landy on a pole in my members gallery :D

[markyc]

Frankly, Keith should have a more Aussie name,

like Keith Keith.:D

Nice pic!

GQ

Or maybe Keith-o?:D

[mcrover]

Ah yes, Keith, my home town.
It is part of the Tatiara Council, originally known as the 90 mile desert. The name came from the home town of the Governor of South Australia, in 1889. That being Keith in the far north east od Scotland.

Other towns/areas include, Bordertown, Mundulla, Padthaway, Wolseley, Willalooka and Western Flat.

We had a farm in Willalooka. There is a road that branches off Willalooka to Bordertown, called McGrice Road. It was named after my Father who spent 20-25 years on the council, many as the council chairman.


And I thought it was 2 blokes on horses riding along, 1 says "I think we should name the place after the local aboriginals and the other says what Keith?" :D:D:D

But like I said I have a strange sense of humor but it was the first thing that came to mind when we stopped at Keith and I was the same, Ive been through it on a number of occasions but only noticed it the last time we went to Adelaide, maybe because it was the first time Ive done the trip in the day time...:p

Edit, There should be a few photo's in my members gallary as well...

[Lotz-A-Landies]

It's a real pitty that the original pic is missing. Unless you know what it is the thread makes no sense.

Ho Hum - threads like time pass on!

Diana

[Quiggers]

I can see the picture Keith, err, Diana:D

It's even there on this reply page....

Cheers, GQ

[RonMcGr]

It's a real pitty that the original pic is missing. Unless you know what it is the thread makes no sense.

Ho Hum - threads like time pass on!

Diana

Diana,

Try here: http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/7121/ppuser/15287

There are more on the next page that explain why the Landy is on the pole :D

[RonMcGr]

I'll add some more.

http://memweb.newsguy.com/~mcgrice/keith_01.jpg

http://memweb.newsguy.com/~mcgrice/keith_03.jpg

http://memweb.newsguy.com/~mcgrice/keith_08.jpg

http://memweb.newsguy.com/~mcgrice/keith_10.jpg

http://memweb.newsguy.com/~mcgrice/keith_11.jpg

http://memweb.newsguy.com/~mcgrice/keith_06.jpg

[gruntfuttock]

Oh so we are into pole dansing are we?:D:D

[Grumndriva]

Thanks so much Ron. Brought back lots of memories from the 50s when we used to travel from Naracoorte to Adelaide by car through that area. My first memory of the road was before it was sealed and it was just basically tracks across the sandhills, but it was much quicker than the "proper" road via Bordertown. Still travel the road when visiting family in Naracoorte and the Mount. Thanks again,

Terry

[RonMcGr]

Thanks so much Ron. Brought back lots of memories from the 50s when we used to travel from Naracoorte to Adelaide by car through that area. My first memory of the road was before it was sealed and it was just basically tracks across the sandhills, but it was much quicker than the "proper" road via Bordertown. Still travel the road when visiting family in Naracoorte and the Mount. Thanks again,

Terry

Hi Terry,

You would have driven past the dirt road turn off to our farm at Willalooka, near Christmas Rocks :D

When it rained, the 36 Buick used to get bogged trying to get to the main gravel road. So the old man would walk back and get the Ford Blitz to pull the Buick out. One day he had to also get the Fiat Crawler out to retrive both :D

Went down there in 2004.
Willalooka now has it's own Tavern!!

[Pedro_The_Swift]

its not the only "pole" series one--
theres one west of Brizvegas on the road to toowoomba,, this ones yellow:eek:

[Rovernaut]

I was over in NZ recently. Quite a few landiies dead in paddocks, but In the STH Isle I did see 2 series landies used as sentries at a lodge entrance. Didn't get a pick tough

[Bigbjorn]

What was the AMP Land Development Scheme? Never heard of it. In my primary school days we learned of Soldier Settlement Schemes, Sugar Industry Expansion Schemes, Peak Downs "Food for Britain" Scheme, Brigalow Lands Development Scheme, various Closer Settlement and Irrigation Schemes, etc. Was the AMP scheme successful. A lot of the others were not, or only partially so.

[Gillie]

You would have driven past the dirt road turn off to our farm at Willalooka, near Christmas Rocks :D

When it rained, the 36 Buick used to get bogged trying to get to the main gravel road. So the old man would walk back and get the Ford Blitz to pull the Buick out. One day he had to also get the Fiat Crawler out to retrive both :D

Went down there in 2004.
Willalooka now has it's own Tavern!!

Willalooka was my old stamping ground for 1991. I bought my first car from a bloke who worked at Amhurst (near Desert Camp) who I met at the Willalooka tavern! When I left school I got a job with Tom Brinkworth and lived on windsong station which is 25km West of Willalooka. The Tavern was there then. I remember every 2nd Thursday being payday a group of us would go down to the Tavern to get a decent feed. I haven't been back for some time but have a mate at Tintinara who I need to visit in the near future. Other Stations that I worked on in the area include WaterValley, Diddicoolum, Balater, Ninga Ninga, Waterview and Cortina Outstation which is closer to the Coorong. I used to duck up to Jip Jip where there was a good swimming hole nearby. And Holidays were spent at Robe.

[LandyBen]

Hi eddiec, it is a great place, the folks there are very friendly, and what a bonus, a landy on a stick! we went through there a couple of years ago, with our S3 Landy, and could'nt believe it. All the best, Ben.:)

[RonMcGr]

Hi Gillie,

I lost track of the place when I left in 1968 to join the Army :D

[RonMcGr]

What was the AMP Land Development Scheme? Never heard of it. In my primary school days we learned of Soldier Settlement Schemes, Sugar Industry Expansion Schemes, Peak Downs "Food for Britain" Scheme, Brigalow Lands Development Scheme, various Closer Settlement and Irrigation Schemes, etc. Was the AMP scheme successful. A lot of the others were not, or only partially so.

Our district had two schemes, AMP and "Lands Department" Soldiers Settlers scheme.

From http://www.soil.pir.sa.gov.au/html/coo_rep_02.htm

2.1.3 THE AMP SCHEME

Development of the Ninety Mile desert began in 1949 in the Keith area under a scheme initiated by Mr Hugh Robinson, the Australian Mutual Provident (AMP) Society's Pastoral Manager. It was a unique scheme whereby AMP provided initial finance to clear the land, and then the blocks were leased by soldier settlers under a 20 year contract system.

During the 2 1/2 year period after the initial seeding, the land was divided into "living areas" of 5 paddocks designed to carry 1500 DSE (800 to 1000 acres). Fences, bores, a home and shearing shed were put on each allotment. The blocks were then allotted by ballot in 1953; each new lessee had then to purchase his own sheep.

Only a small section of the Coorong and Districts Soil Board area was cleared under this scheme.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The majority of our neighbours in Willalooka, were under the AMP scheme. Most sold up and left by the mid 70's, after their 20 year contract ended.

The area we were in was Lands Dept, the range road properties north of us were nearly all AMP.

[RonMcGr]

After looking at the metal map, hesding south from Keith, there is Brecon, a retangular square that is not shaded and then Desert Camp.

Well, the unmarked square is Willalooka area and also where we lived :D

The shaded areas are AMP and there is not a lot of them.

[camel_landy]

You mean this one... :D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/11/171.jpg

We also loved the kiddie playground there...

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/11/172.jpg

:angel:

[Bigbjorn]

[QUOTE=RonMcGr;636841

The majority of our neighbours in Willalooka, were under the AMP scheme. Most sold up and left by the mid 70's, after their 20 year contract ended.
[/QUOTE]

Sounds like the scheme was not really successful, then. Many of the soldier settlers failed because the blocks were too small to ever provide sufficient income to survive the bad years; many of the settlers had no or little primary production experience; most had insufficient capital to develop their blocks. This produced for too many of them years of struggle, hard labour, and poverty. In my working life, I came across a good number who had " walked off" with nothing, or their parents had. One old colleague, now dead, told of life on a soldier settlement fruit growing block near Stanthorpe during the depression years when their trees were finally in full production and no one wanted to buy the fruit. He said he never wanted to eat another rabbit for the rest of his life.

[Grumndriva]

Hi Ron,

I do remember Wilalooka and Christmas Rocks and the surrounding area well. We must have had a similar start in life, coming from the South East and entering the army. I was called up for national service in 1967, but couldn't find the way out. Finished up spending more than 20 years there! Always have been slow! Thanks again for the memories.

Cheers,

Terry

[4bee]

I understand the late John Verbi located/supplied this S1 for the pole project & he told me years ago there is no guts in the engine (what else is new?:D)
or the transmission etc.
John was an early LR nut & broke them for spares at Nairne. Gave that up & worked on a rig in Indonesia (I think it was) came back & started selling parts again at Mount Barker & eventually gave that up as well.


I am fairly sure he passed away though.

[RonMcGr]

Hi Ron,

I do remember Wilalooka and Christmas Rocks and the surrounding area well. We must have had a similar start in life, coming from the South East and entering the army. I was called up for national service in 1967, but couldn't find the way out. Finished up spending more than 20 years there! Always have been slow! Thanks again for the memories.

Cheers,

Terry

Hi Terry,

It is indeed a small world. :D
I think I must have been worse than you, I spent 30 years in there :Thump:

[fc110]

I understand the late John Verbi located/supplied this S1 for the pole project & he told me years ago there is no guts in the engine (what else is new?:D)
or the transmission etc.
John was an early LR nut & broke them for spares at Nairne. Gave that up & worked on a rig in Indonesia (I think it was) came back & started selling parts again at Mount Barker & eventually gave that up as well.


I am fairly sure he passed away though.

John is still around, didn't go to Indonesia, Perth, now back in Adl. I'm the other half that supplied the LR. It IS totally gutted internally to keep the weight down.

[4bee]

He is resurrected? A line or two from "The Life of Brian" seems apt here.:D

[kaa45]

John is still around, didn't go to Indonesia, Perth, now back in Adl. I'm the other half that supplied the LR. It IS totally gutted internally to keep the weight down.

WOW.....living history....welcome to the forum :D
Cheers
Danny

[Narangga]

It's a real pitty that the original pic is missing. Unless you know what it is the thread makes no sense.

Ho Hum - threads like time pass on!

Diana


I can see the picture Keith, err, Diana:D

It's even there on this reply page....

Cheers, GQ

I concur.

One wonders which pole it is on - North or South? :D

[Mick_Marsh]

Every time I pass it, I think. how can I get that down and on a trailer without anyone noticing?
There is a nice light lunch and tea rooms near the fountain there that, on my trips past, I like to call in for a coffee and a bite.

[fc110]

Living history??? I'm not John. I still own a '69 FC 2B & S1 88 '58 Royal Parade. Maybe the history is in the lrs that passed by, mostly SWB, 80-'49, '50, '51, '53, S1- '54, '55, '56, '57, '57SW, '58 above, S2- '58 2litre, S2A- '63 D, '64FC, '65FC, S2B- '69FC, S3- '76 LWB D. Multiples of some years as well, probably abt 30 all told. Then there was the Rover cars 75's 90's 105S 3L's 2000's. Apologies to those Lrs that have been forgotten.

[slug_burner]

Lets hope this link lasts a bit longer

http://www.tourism.sa.gov.au/sastories_old/images/Land-Rover.jpg