Thread: The Birdsville Track 1965

Originally Posted by ChookD2

Found this on another forum, a search here couldn't find an instance of it so here it is. Apologies if it has been posted before.

I remember hearing news that someone was 'lost' on the 'Birdsville'. It wasn't the track, it was the Birdsville. That was almost a death sentence back then. Well provisioned expeditions would set out, and mostly they'd be fine. But individual cars often failed, and we'd get shaky footage ( usually canned ) of the track, with no hope for the poor fools who daed to take on the Outback...

Now, it's a walk in the park. Anyone, like me, miss the old days?? I viewed those blokes the way I did Shackleton or Hilary.

Now, anyone can do it, and go back to pick up the iPhone they left behind.

Sigh, I'm getting old faster than i thought. But I did some things when they were still hard(ish).

BTW, thanks for the post.

Originally Posted by johntins

But I did some things when they were still hard(ish).

In 1965 I was 4. Wish I had done more of this sort of stuff with my first 4WD in the early '80s.

In 1965 I was working in the middle of the Simpson Desert. But I did not see the Birdsville track until 1995, although I visited Birdsville in 1965 - by a charter DC-3 travelling from a claypan in the Simpson to Brisbane.

Originally Posted by ChookD2

In 1965 I was 4. Wish I had done more of this sort of stuff with my first 4WD in the early '80s.

I was 11. And ditto. but back then even the Nullabor ( the old one ) was daunting.

How time's have changed (unfortunately) - "the only other travelers where a group of 3 Land Rovers" (with the film maker driving a Land Rover).

Now if you spot a Land Rover (especially in a convoy) you wave with excitement!

Originally Posted by grey_ghost

How time's have changed (unfortunately) - "the only other travelers where a group of 3 Land Rovers" (with the film maker driving a Land Rover).

Now if you spot a Land Rover (especially in a convoy) you wave with excitement!

In 1964 I drove from Port Augusta to Alice Springs, camped 100km out of PA, and again near Kulgera. In those two days, except in Coober Pedy and Pimba, we saw five vehicles on the road - and two of these were broken down, a Holden ute with a stripped timing gear halfway between PA and Pimba, and a Inter AR110 with a broken axle halfway between Pimba and Coober Pedy.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

and two of these were broken down, a Holden ute with a stripped timing gear

Really,they didn't sort that well,it was still a common problem in the 202 HZ.

Did you know a guy called Bill Warrill,?.He did a lot of work in the Simpson desert,60's,working for mining companies.
Radios,radio transmitters and other devices were his game.