FIVE hundred and five gallons of fuel was used over an 11,000-kilometre taxi fare in 1930.
It was a bumpy ride across Australia’s inhospitable country 86 years ago when taxi driver, Charlie Heard was approached by Lorne resident, Ada Beal, 66, to take her and her two companions on a road trip from Geelong to Darwin and return via Brisbane and Sydney in his Hudson.
The feat, which included just one puncture, was recounted by Mr Heard’s great-uncle, Peter Heard, to Kerang and district University of the Third Age members on Monday.
The remarkable story was accurately told, as Heard’s descendants attest, in a book that includes original photos and journal entries penned during their time on the beaten track inside a pioneering vehicle.
Born in Rochester, Mr Heard moved to Geelong with wife, Hazel Conley, where he was approached and asked, while sitting in line waiting for a fare, if he could drive an elderly woman and her two friends to Darwin.
“Much of the route that Charlie followed was blazed by Scottish explorer, John McDouall Stuart. At times, Charlie used his compass as the track was not always clear,” Peter said.
“On the good roads travelling through Mt Gambier to Adelaide, the Hudson purred along at 40 to 50 miles per hour. By the time they reached Port Augusta, the extra weight was telling on the Hudson suspension, so Charlie removed springs from an old wreck and added a leaf to each of the Hudson springs.”
As a coda to the story, Mr Heard’s grandchildren recreated the trip in June 2008, using the next closest car, a 1928 Essex, plus back-up vehicles and a caravan.
“They followed the original route as closely as possible and were amazed by the similarities which occurred, including the one flat tyre,” Peter said.
Peter said Mr Heard was paid normal taxi fare and Miss Beal paid all expenses, including any petrol above average price, all hotel accommodation, telegrams and photographs.
“Charlie never disclosed the amount he was paid for the trip but he was able to purchase a garage in Cobram with the proceeds,” he said.
“I wouldn’t like to imagine how much the taxi fare would be today, if a driver ever agreed.”
The audience was left in amazement, and often in hysterics, as the full extent of the journey was presented.
