Land Rover's Calvert Expedition.

Land Rover staged the Calvert Centenary Expedition in 1996 to celebrate one of the last old-style Australian expeditions, to demonstrate its model line-up of Range Rover, Land Rover Discovery and Defender, and, one imagines, to have fun and produce a video.

In 1896 Albert Calvert sponsored an expedition from Perth to the Kimberley to search for minerals, to find a stock route and to carry out a scientific survey. The expedition of seven men was lead by Lawrence Wells and its equipment was carried by 20 camels.

In comparison, the centenary expedition used up to four Range Rover 4.6 HSE V8's, three Land Rover Discovery Tdi's and twelve Land Rover Defender Tdi's.

Today, reasonable roads carry the traveller to Wiluna. Outback tracks were then followed to Lorna Glen and to Glenayle stations. There roads were left behind as the expedition headed NW across country to Weld Spring, well #9 on the Canning Stock Route [GAR90]. As is customary for trips in this region, extra fuel was brought in to well #15 from Capricorn Roadhouse at Newman.

The expedition then followed the general direction of the Canning Stock Route with major diversions across country to the Calvert Range ~ 24S, 122 45'E and around the east of Lake Disappointment.

Rock paintings and carvings were found at the Calvert Range, including a depiction of a thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) dated at 26,000 years. The thylacine has been extinct on the mainland for 4,000 years.

Rounding Lake Disappointment progress slowed due to soft mud and, later, large sand dunes. It was near here that two members of the original expedition perished: Lawrence Well's cousin, Charles, and George Lindsay were sent north to search for water but died for lack of it, a fate that can still meet the modern traveller if ill prepared.

The Land Rovers could soon avail themselves of Len Beadell's Garry "Highway" to head in the direction of Lake Auld.

Adverse Well was found at S20°47'65" E123°56'8" [Exp' #18] and a smaller group also located Discovery well.

The video of the Land Rover Calvert Centenary Expedition was made by Graeme Hunt of Perth, Western Australia. It is available from AussieTraders: Graeme Hunt on the [world wide web] or tel: (09) 309 5251, fax: (09) 409 1425.

Go to the Australian Offroad or Land Rover pages

References:

Experience Vol 15-18, 1996-1997

[GAR90] R. and E. Gard. Canning Stock Route. Western Desert Guides 1990