Alice Springs

National Road Transport

Hall of Fame

AEC 8X8WD Government Road Train - 1932

LASSETER LANDROVER

THIS LONG WHEELBASE LANDROVER WAS USED IN SEARCHING FOR LASSETER'S LANDMARKS, CAMP SITES & LEGENDARY LOST GOLD REEF, BY HIS SON ROBERT, ON NUMEROUS EXPEDITIONS DURING THE PERIOD 1966 TO 1978.

LASSETER'S REEF WAS FIRST DISCOVERED IN 1897 BY LEWIS (HARRY) LASSETER, WHO AT THE AGE OF 17 YEARS ATTEMPTED TO TRAVEL ALONE FROM ALICE SPRINGS TO THE WEST COAST WITH 2 HORSES.

HE CONTINUED TO CROSS THE VAST EXPANSE UNTIL, AT THE POINT OF NO RETURN, HIS 2 HORSES DIED & HE CONTINUED ON FOOT. HE WAS SAVED BY AN AFGHAN SANDAL WOOD GETTER WITH CAMELS WHO TOOK HIM TO THE CAMP OF A MAN CALLED HARDING, DESCRIBED AS A SURVEYOR SOMEWHERE IN WA. HE WAS THEN CARRYING A SMALL BAG OF SAMPLES CONTAINING GOLD FROM A QUARTZ REEF HE FOUND. HARDING & LASSETER RETURNED TO THE REEF 3 YEARS LATER. ALL THEIR EFFORTS TO DEVELOP THEIR FIND WERE FUTILE AS GOLD WAS BOOMING IN COOLGARDIE AND KALGOOLIE AND NO FINANCE WAS AVAILABLE FOR A FIND HUNDREDS OF MILES OUT IN THE DESERT.

HARRY LASSETER TRAVELLED ABROAD FOR SOME YEARS THEN WAR INTERVENED. HE ATTEMPTED TO REACH THE REEF AGAIN IN 1918 BUT NOT UNTIL 1930 WAS HE SUCCESSFUL. DURING HIS RETURN FROM THE REEF HIS CAMELS BOLTED AND LEFT HIM STRANDED ALONE NEAR THE PRESENT SETTLEMENT OF DOCKER RIVER. FRIENDLY PITJANTJAIJARA PEOPLE HELPED HIM SALVAGE SOME BELONGINGS WHICH FELL FROM THE 2 BOLTING CAMELS AND HE ESTABLISHED A CAMP AT HULL RIVER. HE SHOWED ENORMOUS ENDURANCE BUT EVEN WITH THEIR HELP HE COULD NOT SURVIVE THE HARDSHIPS OF DYSENTRY AND SANDY-BLIGHT IN THE HARSH CONDITIONS OF SUMMER. ABOUT A MONTH LATER HE ATTEMPTED WALKING TO MOUNT OLGA BUT DIED. WITH HIS DEATH WAS LOST THE LOCATION OF HIS REEF.

HIS SON BOB, TOGETHER WITH GRANDSON AND OTHER FRIENDS HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE FAR BEYOND THE REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS OF A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IN THOUSANDS OF MILES OF BUSH BASHING AND CLAMBERING OVER SAND DUNES TO THE EXTENT THAT THE WHOLE LOT; ENGINE, TRANSMISSION & SUSPENSION ARE MADE OF REPLACEMENT OR SUBSTITUTE PARTS ALL IN AN EFFORT TO ESTABLISH THE ROUTE FOLLOWED BY HARRY LASSETER. THE SEAT ON TOP WAS INSTALLED TO PROVIDE AN ELEVATED VIEW OF THE COUNTRY OVER THE TOP OF THE LOW SCRUB, AT A SIMILAR HEIGHT TO RIDING A CAMEL. IT PROVED TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE. LATER THER RADIATOR WAS MOVED UP BEHIND THE SEAT TO GET CLEAR OF PUSSYTAIL AND SPINIFEX AND AN ELECTRIC FAN INSTALLED TO INSURE GOOD COOLING IN VERY SLOW HARD TRAVELLING.

IN HEAVY SAND DUNE COUNTRY OR TREACHEROUS SALT LAKE AREAS, THE 2ND LANDROVER WAS COUPLED BEHIND WITH A 4M LONG RIGID BAR GIVING IN EFFECT AN 8WD VEHICLE.

THE LASSETERS CONTINUE THEIR SEARCH AND ARE CONFIDENT OF EVENTUAL SUCCESS.

Bojangles Saloon

 

 

Bo's Saloon, a very interesting pub to visit.
Try their Camel pies.

Like our ride?

Desert Park

Birds of Prey