Explorers who retraced the famous 1927 route of Francis Birtles arrive in Melbourne
After an epic 130-day journey retracing the famous 1927 route of Francis Birtles, intrepid explorers Matthew Benns and Warren Brown arrived in Melbourne on Friday after driving from London.
NSW
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After an epic 130-day journey which spanned 17 countries, intrepid explorers Warren Brown and Matthew Benns arrived in Melbourne on Friday to an audience with prime minister Anthony Albanese.
Mr Brown and Mr Benns retraced the famous 1927 route of Francis Birtles and his red 1925 Bean 14.
The dynamic duo drove from London to Melbourne through wind, freezing rain and heatwaves in an identical restored Bean 14, in homage to the original journey.
“These guys here are great Australian adventurers of today, but what they’ve been doing is tracing the steps of great Australian adventurers and pioneers, (of) motoring pioneer Francis Birtles, in whose mighty tracks they have followed,” Mr Albanese said.
They finished their journey yesterday at the GPO in Melbourne where Birtles ended his drive almost 100 years ago.
During the journey, the adventurous pair raised more than $125000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
“This has been for an important cause, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, that has been looking after Australians in particularly in regional and remote Australia, for that 100 years (since Birtles),” Mr Albanese said.
During the epic modern day voyage, Mr Benns and Mr Brown became the first Australians to drive a car the length of Saudi Arabia and had an audience with the King of Malaysia.
Dressed in 1920s-style clothes still stained with red dirt from the Outback, the pair reflected on their journey.
“It’s extraordinary,” Mr Brown said.
“When we left Australia House on the Strand in London Melbourne might as well have been across the other end of the universe, but here we are.”
“It’s a surreal feeling,” Mr Benns agreed.
“We’ve come over the Alps, freezing temperatures, 47 degree heat, four continents and 17 countries and here we are.
“I’m stunned, I don’t know how I’m going to go to work on Monday and sit behind a desk.”
Along the way, the team has been collecting donations in tins for the RFDS and accepting donations at:
How our car-azy adventure has bean a lifesaver
Telegraph reporter Matthew Benns and cartoonist Warren Brown’s epic drive from London to Melbourne in a historic jalopy has raised more than $120,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
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