1926 The first motor honeymoon around Australia by Muriel Dorney
Submitted: Monday, Nov 27, 2017 at 13:00
ThreadID:
135919
Views:
7454
Replies:
7
FollowUps:
7
This Thread has been Archived
Member - Brian H16
An Adventurous Honeymoon (around Australia in 1926)
The newly married couple had a brand new 1926 Willys Overland Whippet (only just released onto the market that year) which they had to modify as their sleeping platform as
well as transport. Husband Jack, had extensive knowledge of bush life and exceptional mechanical ability from years on isolated bush tracks.. His new bride Muriel, from her school teaching background, decided to keep notes and take the occasional photo for the book she planned to write of the adventure. The book as titled above, is of 214 or so pages in paperback form with 52 illustrations. This rare publication will one day I hope, appear as an 'e-book' otherwise few adventure minded souls will ever get to draw a parallel between then and now
Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, Nov 27, 2017 at 14:48
Monday, Nov 27, 2017 at 14:48
.
Thanks for that Brian. I found it very interesting and, like you, hope that it appears as an e-book one day.
Copies of the original publication are not just "rare" but fetch thousands of dollars!
In doing a follow-up search on Muriel's book I encountered a link to
"Pioneering Australian Motor Car Travel".
It provides a short review of Muriel's book together with a dozen others. Each amazing efforts and one, "Across Australia in Seven Days", from
Fremantle to
Sydney in 1918, just on one hundred years ago on unsealed roads. It is not easy to do that today in 7 days!
My own father drove from
Adelaide to
Perth in 1949 in a Vauxhall Velox with his brother and their wives. I don't know how long the return journey took and cannot imagine how he managed the fuel supply. However, recalling his feat always puts my own achievements in a Troopy in their proper proportion!
AnswerID:
615242
Follow Up By: Member - Brian H16 - Monday, Nov 27, 2017 at 15:44
Monday, Nov 27, 2017 at 15:44
Ripper Allan ! Glad you also enjoy and respect those who went before us. I searched for a year or so before I got my copy, from, of
all places, a little book
shop ( I never did see it. Now gone I believe. Was on the original highway I used to ride my Tiger 110 on near Glass House mountains ) I was rocked when I found it was priced at $90, but was still worth as just not available. I will contact the publishers if still around and also
check who has copywright as would be easy to e-publish it. Your message made my day. Roll on !
FollowupID:
886110
Reply By: Member - Rowdy6032 (WA) - Monday, Nov 27, 2017 at 15:37
Monday, Nov 27, 2017 at 15:37
Sounds like an interesting book which I would like to read.
Without taking anything away from the adventures of Muriel Dorney, the first Mayor of
Leonora, William Snell, back in 1897, cycled from
Menzies to
Melbourne via
Adelaide, doing the trip in 26 days, and was the first to undertake this journey. He was looking for Pastoral land at the time and made no attempt to establish a record trip.
They didn't have things easy in those days.
AnswerID:
615243
Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, Nov 27, 2017 at 15:40
Monday, Nov 27, 2017 at 15:40
.
Not only was it not "easy" Rowdy, but they did it without bragging.
FollowupID:
886109