Len Beadell Tracks/Roads

Hi Allan,
What's the track going in between Mount Davies Road and eastern Gunbarrel?

Cheers
Alan

Hi Alan,

The map I posted above came from Ian Bayly's book 'Len Beadell's Legacy'. The track in question, although drawn, is not named on that map.

A map in the frontispiece of Lennie's 'Bush Bashers' book shows that same track (un-named) going from near Cheesemans Peak on the Mt Davies Road, passing Mt Kintore to join the Gunbarrel. As such it is Kintore Avenue, a Beadell road, constructed during 1961.

Very interesting Allan.

Thank you.

Incidentally, the Bayly map above is not too precise as I found when superimposing the Woomera range centreline. I positioned the two ends of the centreline as best I could but it then passes too far from Emu.

Yes I noticed that Kintore Avenue joins the GB right on the centre line.

As best as I can determine, the centreline crosses the Gunbarrel near Wintawatu, about 50km East of the Kintore Ave junction.

BushRat


I should have also stated that you do not have any books on Len Beadell, there are a number of books out there that give a great run down on how and why the various tracks were established.

Len himself published a number of book which will give you a great taste of what you will be in for.



Cheers



Stephen

G'day Stephen,

You're right - I don't have any Beadell books. Will have to get one or two. I have some audio recordings which I have listened to many times - "Too Long In The Bush" and a talk that he gave. Both wonderful stuff.

Back again.

Which of all Len's books is the best and an easy read? I find reading difficult these days.

Go to this page. The book "Outback Highways" will get many of them in one volume.

Hi Eddie

Sorry that I have not returned an answer to your reply, but I have been away.

Here is a list of all the books available regarding Len Beadell and the construction of our iconic Outback Tracks, the first lot written by Len himself, while the last 2 were written by Mark Shephard and Ian Bayly.


Beadell, Len (1976). Beating About the Bush. New Holland Publishers(Australia). ISBN 1-876622-15-6.
Beadell, Len (1967). Blast The Bush. Lansdowne Publishing. ISBN 1-86302-618-5.
Beadell, Len (1971). Bush Bashers. New Holland Publishers (Australia). ISBN 1-86436-734-2.
Beadell, Len (1983). End of an Era. New Holland Publishers (Australia). ISBN 1-86436-733-4.
Beadell, Len (1975). Still in the Bush. Rigby Limited,Adelaide. ISBN 0-7270-0020-9.
Beadell, Len (1965). Too Long in the Bush. New Holland Publishers (Australia). ISBN 1-86436-719-9.
Beadell, Len (1979). Outback highways (compilation of the above). Adelaide South Australia: Rigby. ISBN 0727010832.
Beadell, Len (1997). Around the World in 80 Delays. Corkwood Press, North Adelaide SA. ISBN 1-87624-702-9.

Books about Len Beadell

A Lifetime In The Bush: A biography of Len Beadell by Mark Shephard
Len Beadell's Legacy: Australia's Atomic Bomb and Rocket Roads by Ian Bayly


Cheers



Stephen

Yes Stephen, they are available through the link I posted above (albeit some only in the compilation.) Did you not open my link?

Hi Peter,

Sorry but I did not open your link, thinking it was only refering to the book, Outback Highways.

I wanted to give the complete list of all books that have been written, and I notice that neither the Mark Shephard or Ian Bayly books are not available through the EO shop.

Reading Ian's book did open a can of worms and pointed out that Len was a very good story teller indeed, and not all that was put down in print was correct.......and Len himself never witnessed first hand the very first nuclear bomb at Emu, which Len gave great details in his book, Blast the Bush details how he was in the official party to witness the explosion, when in fact he was with a group of Officials, looking for a new perminant test site that eventually was to be known as Maralinga.



Cheers




Stephen

Stephen,

Then of course there are some books on Woomera which contain some extended remarks about Len's roadbuilding. However no more information than what is in the books you referenced.

A word of advice....... It is not wise to make any reference to Mark Shepard's or Ian Bayly's books to Mick or Connie. The response is not enthusiastic to say the least!