Cirrus@Austlit

'This essay explores the rise of overland motor touring in Australia and the way those experiences were written up in non-fiction narratives. During the 1920s and 1930s, there was a growing interest in exploring the vastness of home by utilising new technologies. The particular focus is on the writings of Ellis Bankin, an enthusiastic motorcyclist and overlander, who published a number of articles in popular magazines. The essay argues that three key themes: the mode of transport, routes taken and encounters along the way shape both the experience of travel and the narratives they inspire. Examining these accounts reveals tensions between technology and nature, speed and discovery, and locals and overlanders.' (Publication summary)