Early Australian overland and intercity records

In the early twentieth century, the public were captivated by attempts to set records between Australian cities. The mania started in 1907 when a pair attempted to set a Sydney to Melbourne record. The journey took two days, 17 hours and 26 minutes which included a long delay to repair the engine and radiator after the car struck a stump in the middle of the road.

Times fell over the following years, culminating in a record set in March 1930 by Don Robertson who drove solo and went from Sydney to Melbourne in 10 hours and 5 minutes, an average speed of 98.4 km/h.

Later that same year, two drivers were killed when attempting to beat the record and police stepped in and speed attempts on public roads became illegal. This ended official timing of these runs.

Records

The following information was originally published in One for the Road: The legend of Australian and New Zealand motoring by Jack Pollard (published by Pollard Publishing, 1974, ISBN 0909950849).

Early Overland Records

Compiled by the Royal Automobile Club of Australia.

Melbourne to Sydney - December 1909. GI White and F Custance; 21 hours 19 minutes.

Melbourne to Sydney - March 1913. AV Turner; 19 hours 2 minutes.

Melbourne to Adelaide - March 1914. Murray Aunger and F Beasley, Price Henry type Vauxhall; 15 hours 54 minutes 34 seconds; 579 miles.

Fremantle to Sydney - December 1915. H Fraser and P Armstrong; 8 days 23 hours 35 minutes; 3289 miles.

Melbourne to Sydney - March 1916. Boyd Edkins, Prince Henry Vauxhall; 16 hours 55 minutes.

Fremantle to Sydney - January 1919. JL Burton and T Smith; Hupmobile; 7 days 2 hours 17 minutes, 2677 miles.

Brisbane to Sydney - December 1922. Boyd Edkins and BW Webb; 30/98 Vauxhall; 18 hours 58 minutes.

Sydney to Melbourne - February 1923. AV Turner, 25 horsepower Sports Model Delage, 13 hours 47 minutes, 576 miles.

Melbourne to Sydney - February 1923. Norman Smith, Essex; 14 hours 28 minutes.

Brisbane to Sydney - February 1923. Norman Smith, Essex; 18 hours 45 minutes; 630 miles.

Melbourne to Sydney - December 1923. Norman Smith, Essex; 12 hours 59 minutes.

Sydney to Melbourne - February 1924. AV Turner 18/25 Itala Sports Model; 12 hours 34 minutes; 576 miles.

Sydney to Newcastle - January 1925. A Vaughan, Citroen; 3 hours 46 minutes; 156 miles.

Melbourne to Adelaide - April 1925. AH Barnes and JJ McCallack. Rochet Schneider; 12 hours 10 minutes; 573 miles.

Interstate and Intercity Records

Compiled by the Royal Automobile Club of Australia.

Melbourne to Sydney - 565 miles. Don Robertson, Graham Paige. 8 hours 56 minutes.
Light Car (under 2000 cc) J Clements; Bugatti; 10 hours 55 minutes.
Under 1000 cc - A Beasley; Signer; 11 hours 59 minutes.
Baby Car (under 850 cc) - C Dickson; Austin 7; 12 hours 36 minutes.

Brisbane to Sydney - 658 miles. Norman Smith; Ford 8; 13 hours 38 minutes.
Light Car - A Beasley; Singer; 11 hours 59 minutes.

Adelaide to Melbourne - 495 miles. EJ Buckley; Hudson; 10 hours 46 minutes.

Adelaide to Sydney - 1161 miles via Melbourne. A Barnes; Citroen; 26 hours 17 minutes.

Fremantle to Melbourne - 2285 miles. Norman Smith; Studebaker; 82 hours 55 minutes.
Light Car - P Antill; Riley; 110 hours 22 minutes.

Fremantle to Brisbane - 3493 miles. Norman Smith; Studebaker; 6 days 3 hours 32 minutes.

Adelaide to Brisbane - 1934 miles. Norman Smith; Studebaker; 82 hours 2 minutes.

Melbourne to Brisbane - 1325 miles. Norman Smith; Studebaker; 60 hours 37 minutes.

Darwin to Sydney - 2815 miles. A Mackay; Essex; 5 days 5 hours 53 minutes.

Fremantle to Adelaide - 1734 miles. Miss Jean Robertson and K Howell; Lancia; 2 days 10 hours.

Fremantle to Sydney, via Port Augusta-Renmark and Hay. Dr G Manning; Chrysler 80- Sedan; 4 days, 10 hours 43 minutes.
Light Car, via Melbourne - P Antill, Riley; 5 days 8 hours 2 minutes.

Darwin to Melbourne - 3380 miles. L Nudl and A Kimmick; Chevrolet; 6 days 1 hour 25 minutes.

Sydney to Cowra - 206.5 miles. P Donnelly; Whippet; 3 hours 50.5 minutes.

Sydney to Bourke - 512 miles. N Aubin and H Tunbridge; Ford; 9 hours 47 minutes.

Note: The dates of the above records are not available, but it is safe to assume that none were achieved later than 1935, when the police stopped these events for all time.

References

Wheels Across Australia: Motoring from the 1890s to the 1980s by Pedr Davis (published by Marque Publish Company, 1987, ISBN 0997079033)

One for the Road: The legend of Australian and New Zealand motoring by Jack Pollard (published by Pollard Publishing, 1974, ISBN 0909950849)