Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Thursday 26 July 1928, page 12


BY MOTOR-CAR FROM LONDON.

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MR. BIRTLES IN MELBOURNE.

WELCOME IN STREETS.

Plans to Visit Arnhem Land.

At the end of an adventurous journey

across the world Mr. Francis Birtles reached Melbourne yesterday. He had completed a motoring trip of 16,000 miles, which had taken him from London through many little-known parts of the earth, and had occupied nine months; but he seemed more embarrassed at being the centre of cheering crowds in the city streets than relieved at having surmounted the dangers and difficulties of his. tour. Before he had been at his destination a few minutes he was already concerned with plans for a visit to Arnhem Land

In anticipation of the arrival of Mr. Birtles and Mr. P. E. Stollery, who ac-companied him on the later part of his journey, a large crowd gathered outside the Elizabeth street Post-office. The travellers stopped at this point only for a moment, receiving welcomes from representatives of motoring bodies and oil and rubber com-panies and a cheer from the crowd. Driv-

ing his veteran Bean car the "Sundowner" along Elizabeth Street, Collins street, Swan- ston street, and Bourke street, Mr. Birtles received another hearty welcome from about 2,000 people outside Parliament House. Here too, the ceremony was ex-ceedingly brief, the Premier (Mr. Hogan) shaking hands with the motorists and con- gratulating them upon their achievement. From Parliament House Mr Birtles went on to the business place of Barlow Motors Pty. Ltd. in Latrobe street, where the very travel-stained British car was ex- amined. Considering the fact that this car had previously been used extensively by Mr Birtles on his Australian journey-

ings, and had undergone a "gruelling" test on the journey from London, it was found to be in remarkably good order.

Mr. Stollery, who joined Mr. Birtles at Calcutta, is a young Canadian who set out originally to walk round the world. Both motorists speak in the highest terms of the car's performance under difficult conditions. Mr. Birtles, who spent the day quietly after his arrival, plans to put in a considerable time in Arnhem Land. He has brought special photographic ap- paratus with him from I ondon in order to make a pictorial record of aboriginal and animal life in this area. Of his journey to Melbourne he considers the most hazardous part to have been through India into Burma, and the least difficult part to have been the trip from Darwin onwards, which he had made so many times before. The hospitable spirit of Burmese was much appreciated by Mr. Birtles. Though the staple diet of the people was rice, they took trouble to provide meat for the travellers, even going so far on one oc-casion as to supply them with a cooked and stuffed puppy.

Shell motor spirit and Dunlop tyres were used throughout the journey. Among those to welcome Mr. Birtles yesterday was Mr. J. H. Simpson, factory representative of Bean Cars Ltd. in New South Wales, who had come from Sydney for the purpose.