Bubsie and the Boys: The first journey around Australia by car

In the winter of 1925, a pair of 21-year-old men drove out of Perth in a small second-hand Citroen nicknamed “Bubsie” headed for Darwin. At the time, no motor vehicle had ever drive to Darwin from Perth and their borrowed Citroen had less horsepower than a modern-day lawn mower. There were no serviced roads north of Meekatharra and few petrol stations. With most of the routes north unmapped cattle station tracks, the boys—Nevill Westwood and Greg Davies—would need to rely on the generosity of cattle station managers for food and fuel.

Getting to Darwin was adventure enough, but their journey took an unexpected turn when a car dealer encouraged them to keep driving to the east coast instead of returning to Perth via steam ship. It was a journey that would make Australian motoring history—the first car to drive around Australia—and the original vehicle is now housed at the National Museum as a vehicle of national significance.

© 2025 Signs Publishing (Audiobook): 9781923352131

Release date

Audiobook: 3 October 2025