D 6750(L) Vol 10 Part 1 Frances Diana Christison Trip Diary of a Journey by Bond's Tourist Motor Coach from Adelaide to Darwin and Return 23 May - 11 August 1928
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__________________________________________________________________________________ D 6750(L) Vol 10 Part 1 Frances Diana Christison Trip diary of a journey by Bond's Tourist Motor Coach from Adelaide to Darwin and return 23 May - 11 August 1928. Transcribed by Judy M Fander, Volunteer at the State Library of South Australia, 2012 Page numbers in the text are positioned at the bottom right hand corner, in pencil Each traveller was allowed between 30 lbs & 40 lbs weight of luggage I brought mine down to 35 lbs including a waterproof rug. Page 2 1928 There & Back July 3rd. Tuesday It is previous to write of “Back” when we are so much engaged in getting “There.” Before getting there it is necessary to start. We did. We did little else. Cheery goodbyes, hand shakes, hand waves• camera snaps and the big touring Studebaker, & its accompanying lighter car was off at 8.30 a.m from Bond’s garage. Kind friends who had seen us off dispersed• and “we” that is the two car loads of luminaries & their good & chatells• got as far as King William St when it became evident that the springs were “done”, Back to garage where the car was jacked up the whole complement of the garage crawled underneath & did mysterious things. After some time it was announced that about 11.30 we could be under weigh. The party consisting of Mrs. Bond, Mrs. Christison, Mr. Bond (driver):•Mr. Amies from Melbourne: Mr. Pope, (Cook); Mr. Robb & Mr. Trussell scattered, returning to find that the superlatively strong & brand new springs which had not acted up to expectations were replaced by the old ones• the others to be altered & follow us by rail to Oodnadatta. We were just out of Frome Road when an ominous noise made me wonder. Car was stopped• investigations decided that back to garage we must go• spring broken! This time there was no question. It was given out that departure could not be made till the morrow• We departed to various destinations. Surprise and consternation when I appeared at the Club – but a welcome for the night in the same old room• no camping out! Here endeth the first lesson. Wednesday July 4th. Mr. Bond sent car for me, & I found all the passengers & crew ready at the garage. A second car ready to accompany the big one. At 8.30 the two cars were off. a snap taken by Mr Lane• Very quiet goodbye & we were really under way Kept so travelling briskly through Two Wells, Malala to Balaklava where we stopped for some morning tea Remembering the hurried tea & toast at the Club it seemed very pleasant. Went through Red Hill & Naridy & passed Lochiel & some small salt ponds. Went through Snow town & reached Port Pirie at 2.30 where we lunched at the Royal Exchange Hotel. After which we pushed on to Port Augusta where we found the inhabitants plunged in a hectic time of gaiety \owing to Race Week’/ The Flinders Hotel however offered us dinner at 7.30. Camping out was determined on [ .? ] about 221 miles from Adelaide• There was no possible chance of accommodation in the town. A great surprise awaited me when my nephew Bob came up to the car• where Mr Bond & I were sitting awaiting events D 6750/10 Part 1 Christison diary transcript Page 1 of 39 __________________________________________________________________________________ including dinner. He & his father were up for the Races with a horse to run. Polo had been going on all day a dance tonight. The dance was very evident from the crowd of noisy young people in evening dress at the hotel & three relays of dinner Went in & saw Bob & had a chat• Soon after dinner we loaded up with petrol and went on 22 miles further to camp in the bush. A bright fire lit• Two tents put up one given to Mrs. Bond & me & 2 camp beds Hot coffee or cocoa & we turned in• The men sleeping in the cars a tarpaulin or the other tent. Myall scrub• some needle bush. Much mistletoe on the trees Thursday 6th Woke at dawn. some hot water brought in my “bath” • Found breakfast getting ready when we left tent. Impressive repast chops eggs & bacon sausages• Some little work getting into cars, packing We were again off at 9.15 At 10.25 were at Hesso rail station 38 miles from P Augusta East-West railwayline. Two small cottages where were two women with babies splendid specimens. Page 4 next passed through Barkaloo Go in Woocala 12.30 Very stony country about 82 miles from Port Auga Here & there at places near the homesteads were small enclosures with head- stones to graves• perhaps two or one only. At Hesso one lonely grave bore on the head- stone the inscription Samuel Gason April 11. 1897. aged 52. Erected by friends & admirers from Passed Wirrappa 109 miles from P. Augusta. Startled an emu. A flock of Kangaroos about 3.20 The homestead of “The Pines” about 3.40. Phillips Pard 4.15. took snaps of some fine children who came to the car a boy & girl about 4 & 6. We pushed on through some very desolate country till we came to a scrub & tree region where we stopped at 7 p.m to camp for the night. In a wonderfully short space of time Mr. Pope had a good dinner ready• a delicious stew followed by tea & cake. It was cold with a clear sky. Mr. Bond rigged up wireless and we enjoyed 5CL Adelaide & 3LO Melbourne the voices at times being very clear–We turned in, Mrs. Bond & I again sharing a tent & a gorgeous tent blue & white stripes suggestive of a beach in a French watering place. For the first time I was pushed into a sleeping bag & having also a camp bed I slept soundly in spite of bitter cold. The morning fire was so enticing that we shifted out table We actually have a collapsable table with a piece of white American cloth which does duty for “plate” at 2nd course as we are only allowed a change of plates when there is “stewed fruit”July 6th \Friday/ Left the camp 9.15. 1st stop at the East Well. Station owned by Mr. Pick away at P. Augusta Races. There were camps of blacks nearby and we took some snaps of them at the homestead. A Mr Michael got petrol there. perhaps boundary riders knew Clare 60 years ago. Camped for lunch before going hit Kingoonya Station the railway line with post mail telegraph office, not much else. N.B. The Blacks were at Coonambo Station owned by Mr Pick. Bon Bon station 5.15 Pretty little garden Mt Eba Station 6.15. Neat pretty house with little garden & vine on verandah• Saturday 7th July Camped three miles from Mt Eba in Myall scrub A blazing camp pre lit and tents pitched• two motor cars parallel & a tarpaulin stretched across making our “dining hall.” After the evening mess Mrs. Bond’s gramaphone His Master’s Voice was unpacked and we enjoyed some excellent records until she & I were too sleepy for more. The car needed attention & kept Mr. D 6750/10 Part 1 Christison diary transcript Page 2 of 39 __________________________________________________________________________________ Bond & Mr. Robb busy till the early morning when from my tent near[ ? ] I heard the snorting that proclaimed “she” (the big Studebaker”) was in going order. Dawn was again bitterly cold and even my snug sleeping bag and my socks & hot water-bag (alas by this time also cold) kept me from shivering. Ere long the cook appeared with our hot “baths” & by 8. everyone was ready for the hot breakfast that smelt so good from the pan. “Damper” this morning & very good it was The sun rose to a cloudless sky. Kingoonya about 3 p.m. Reached a station “Twin Wells” 11.20 Saw camel team resting just before getting there Two Wells owned by a Mr. -- Jacob brother to Mr Max Jacob who once drove for Mr. Bond at Clare. A very good house newly built of stone three sides verandah• a garden in preparation• sugar gums planted. Some miles further on we took the wrong track and found ourselves at a new homestead unfinished many shearers about. Informed us we were 20 miles out of the way. Went back about 14 miles and got on right track to the right. A heavily laden lorry was following us• also uncertain of the way. Page 6 About 2.30 stopped for lunch in [illegible crossed out ] bare country lit small fire & had lunch• A little light bush but no trees• stones looking like black basalt. A black woman came along• told us she belonged to a boring party which was not far off• We met them later on. Crossed the first creek we encountered “Bumby” dry As we went on the country from being bare sand & stones with no evidence of rain for years changed to salt-bush with with green vegetation springing up between. Rain must have been very recent & the feed was splendid. No sheep or any other life in sight After sunset we again picked up the lorry, also making for Coober Peedy. The driver a Mr. Watson a contractor known to Mr. Trussel had been having a very bad time. He had taken good from Adelaide– had various engine troubles, lost a cylinder head & sent for a new one which instead of being unloaded at Kingoonya was taken on to Kalgoorlie His supply of water was exhausted & he had to drink from his radiator. We decided not to go in to Coober Peedy but to camp by a dry creek where were the first gum trees we had seen (poor, stunted specimens) & a grove of myalls.