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ACROSS WEST AUSTRALIA ON A FIVE-TONNER.

7th November 1922
Page 22
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Page 22, 7th November 1922 — ACROSS WEST AUSTRALIA ON A FIVE-TONNER.
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The Completion of an Historic Demonstration Trip Through Country Hitherto Unexplored by Motor Lorry and Served only by Camel and Donkey Teams.

: (Concluded).

IN OUR last issue we published the opening parbon of an exceptionally interesting article relating to an historic and pioneer demonstration trip undertaken by a five-.ton commercial vehicle of British manufacture through some of the arid wastes separating Perth in the south and Onslow in the north of Western Australia. We recounted at some length the diversified adventures of the lorry as far as Pindar, and.indieated, by means of some excellent pictures, the class of obstacles which was encountered on the first stage of the run, and it-is from this place that we pick up the threads of the story and deal with the remaining sections of the journey—i.e., from Pinder to Carnarvon, and from Carnarvon to Onsl ow.

It was on April 17th that the A.E.C. five-tonner began that part of the journey from Pindar to Carnarvon—1,089 miles being to -its credit up -to date. Light rains had been falling for many hours previously, so thdt the journey was resumed in bad weather, with the roads in a very slippery state. The progress made was, as a consequence, slow, and it was not until early evening that Yuin-40 miles distant--was reached. Thisaplace was left on the following day, and the bad roads now became wors3, in .spite of which 40 miles' progress was made before lunch, and 20 miles after, when Murgoo, the next port of call, was made the halt for the night. The actual travelling time onthis section of the journey was 6 hrs., and for 60 miles the petrol consumntion averaged 5 m.p.g. Station owners in Western Australia semi to vie with one another as to the hospitality which they can bestow upon travellers, and throughout the whole of the journey the lorry crew record their expression .of gratitude for the thoughtful treatment which they received on all sides. &A. typical instance was when the vehicle arrived at Wooleen on April 19th after a run of 50 miles through much rain and very heavy

and boggy ground, and the _ members of the party were invited to accept the hospitality of a night's accommodation.

Wooleen was left on the following day, and the crossing of the Murchison River, undertaken while the current was running strong. The night of the 20th was spent on the roadside

and the weather showed distinct signs of improvement. The next day witnessed. the knocking off of another 55 miles, during which Mount Narrger was

passed, and Byro, 250 miles from Carnarvon, reached. From Byro the roads showed marked signs of

deterioration, And after successfully negotiating some

of the creeks a camp was struck. The creeks gave the A.E.C. chassis a rare twisting. but, thanks to the three-point suspension of its principal units, no

trouble worthy of the name was experienced. Later in the day the Wooramel River,. 24 miles from Byro,

was crossed, and the expedition sighted a pool of fresh water. At this point an entry in the crew's diary —" The machine is standing up beautifully ; no trouble at all "—should not be passed over.

On April 23rd the journey was a most arduous one for both lorry and crew. he most appalling roads and creeks, washed out by the recent rains, were met, and at times the lorry was down to the axles in mud ; 40 miles was the toll for the day.

Continuing oil the follovsting morning, Dairy Creek was passed at 10.30 a.m., and Boundary Store was reached in the evening after a trying journey over

sandhills and heavy flats which sorely tried the sandbelts with which tho driving wheels were fitted. On

leaving Boundary Store the difficult Congo Creek had to be crossed. This was done without a stop, the sandbelts proving most efficacious, and the party arrived at Bijemia Clifton Down in the evening—about a two days' run from Carnarvon.

On April 26th the Gascoyne River and some nasty sandhills were met with after leaving Jinaba Jimba. The final day of the second section of the tedious journey began on the following morning, and closed the evening of the same day, after a run of 70 miles.

To give seine idea of the ameunt of twist to which the vehicle was constantly subjected, it might be mentioned that it was almost impossible to keep the ordinary rubber joint in its place in the water connection between the radiator and engine, a much longer hose being required.

A telegram received from the demonstration lorry on April 28th is trustworthy evidence of the quality of the British product, and particularly of the A.E.C. lorry. It read as follows.:— Arrived Carnarvon last night ; crossed all creeks; rough country; mud ; also sandhills no breakages or stops of any kind."

Thus the s-ton A.E.C. lorry had completed the greaterportion of the journey to Onslow, and added a chapter to AuStratian transport history by carrying out a tripwhich, until a few months ago, was believed to be impossible of attainment by a heavy motor vehicle. It is quite difficult to -estimate the value of this demonstration to station .owners in the " out-back " and to the manufacturers of the vehicle, for all preconceived ideas of Western Australian transport have been swept aside, and many alterations and adjustments had to be made in difficult circumstances requiring' infinite patience.

AL rest in Carnarvon, the lorry was prepared for the third and last section of the journey. On the morning of May 4th the last stage began, and Boolathna Ikas reached with little or nothing of note to record. On the night of the 8th the lorry was only ten miles from Manilya, which was reached early on the following morning. To getoto this station the sand-patch known as " Shaw's Patch" had to be crossed, and many people doabted the ability of the lorryto accomplish this part. of the journey, as it is very much dreaded by the owners of even small high-powered cars. However, although it was found troublesome, it was negotiated by the lorry without any assistance. Manberry was reached on May 9th, and Wandagie Station a day later, and, so far, with the exception " Shaw's Patch," the trackskai this section of the journey had been fairly good. On the way to Williambury, the next place of importance on the itinerary, Mardlya River had to be crossed, and right in the.middle of it one of the sand-belts broke. One of our illustrations gives a good idea of the depth to which the back 'axle sank, and the boards placed under the hark wheels to secure adhesion can . be

clearly seen. For 12 miles after Making this crossing the roads; were in a very bad state, despite which Yarryreddy was reached after a good run of 48 miles. Towera, was passed without utituwarf.1„;ucickut, and then an exciting day was spent in negotiatirg YaMrey River at Barradale crossing. Here a wagon was found stuck in the middle of the river, and to cireudivent it was not an easy or safe job. After putting lengths of timber below the wheels and tackling the job steadily, however, a safe crossing was made. As a result of this delay the lorry and. its crew . were unable to make Onslow—the ultimate destination— on May 15th, and when night set in the expedition was compelled to call a halt 20 miles from its objective.

The town of Onslow was well within sight in the forenoon of the following day, and its residents were • much impressed -with the fact that -the. lorry .11w]; crossed the, extensive wilderness separating them from Perth. At the completion of the journey the engine was running as smoothly and as quietly as in the garage before the Terry set out on its historic run, and after a trip through very difficult country, in which rivers had to be crossed under its own. power. This is indeedstriking 'testimony to the efficiency of the A.E.C. unit.

This remarkable journey adds a new and stirring chapter to the history-dealing with the progress and development of mechanical road transport. Fall of excitement and adventure, hardship and -pleasure as it was, it has been the means of proving to those " outback" that the modern motor vehicle provides them with the means for maintaining close touch with " the madding crowd."

No demonstration of this Character has ever been undertaken before, and the results have, once and for all, disproved -theTstatements that the modern eoinmercial motor vehicle is useless in sandy or stony country. It is not only useful, but one may say that, in two or three years' time, it will be indispensable. Moreover, it goes to prove that the proner and speedy exploitation of Australia and its national resources depends a great deal more on modern methods of -road transport than most of those liVing in Australia believe.

1-essrs. Denny Bros. (Messrs. Clinton, Roberts and Gibson who carried out this demonstration) and the Associated Equipment Co. Ltd.' i are to be congratulated on accomplishing that ,whch has been thought impossible. Any station ovv-iker can now rest assured that what has been done on this trip can be done

again on a motor lorry at a

• =w cost, which is merelynominal in comparison with the advan tages gained'. The demoniTation journey is likely to be responsible, during the. next year or so, for a considerable change over from camel and donkey teams to the modern motor lorry.

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Locations: Perth, Onslow

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