Maribyrnong Six

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Colourised pictured of the six girls and Agnes

The Maribyrnong Six were a group of six Australian women who achieved national media attention in December 1952 by driving a retired fire engine across the Nullarbor Plain. Undertaking the journey to return home for Christmas, the group traveled from Melbourne, Victoria, to Perth, Western Australia, via the gold-mining town of Kalgoorlie. The overland expedition was widely covered by contemporary Australian newspapers due to the unusual choice of vehicle, the extreme summer desert conditions, and the unique nature of an all-female crew attempting the unsealed transcontinental crossing at the time.

Background and Vehicle

One of the many photos for the press

During the post-World War II period, the members of the group were employed at the government munitions production facilities in Maribyrnong, a western suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. In December 1952, a core group of workers decided to travel to Western Australia for the Christmas holiday period. Ivanac, a resident of the gold-mining hub of Kalgoorlie, served as a primary destination anchor for the transcontinental journey; her participation and the historic trek were later documented in regional biographical history literature.

To facilitate the thousands of miles of overland travel, the group acquired a retired 1927 Dodge fire engine which they affectionately named "Agnes." By 1952, the vehicle was a 25-year-old vintage mechanical piece, lacking modern suspension, synchromesh gearing, or climate control. Despite its age, the commercial-grade chassis, high ground clearance, and onboard utility spacing made it uniquely suited to carry the heavy loads of fuel, water, and provisions required to navigate the unsealed outback tracks of the era. The women's employment at the Maribyrnong munitions facilities provided them with practical mechanical familiarity and a collaborative work ethic, giving them the unique confidence to operate and maintain a heavy commercial vehicle independently across isolated regions.

To match the festive and adventurous spirit of the transcontinental holiday trip, the women customized the exterior of the vintage fire engine with hand-painted, humorous slogans. This gaudy signage painted onto Agnes's bodywork included tongue-in-cheek warnings for other motorists and spectators, such as "If I knew you were coming I would have fixed the brakes" and "Don't laugh, your son maybe inside."

Overland Journey

Fixing on of the many broken rims

The Maribyrnong Six departed Melbourne in mid-December 1952 with an initial itinerary planned to complete the transcontinental crossing in seven days. The route took them west through Adelaide, South Australia, before they reached Ceduna, the final outpost before entering the unsealed portion of the Eyre Highway across the Nullarbor Plain.

From the Nullarbor, they drove toward Norseman before heading north to the gold-mining town of Kalgoorlie, the home of passenger Margaret Ivanac. The final leg of the journey concluded in the state capital of Perth. Due to severe mechanical delays, the transcontinental crossing ultimately took ten days to complete, though the group successfully arrived in Western Australia in time for Christmas.

The primary hazard encountered during the desert crossing was the recurring structural failure of the 1927 Dodge's wheels. The severe corrugations, deep potholes, and limestone ruts of the unsealed Nullarbor track caused the truck's rims to repeatedly buckle under the weight of the vehicle and its provisions. Navigating these breakdowns in extreme December summer heat required the group to perform improvised roadside repairs to reshape the wheels and keep the vintage vehicle operational between isolated outback stations.

Media Reception and Arrival

The end of the road

Girls attracted a lot of media interest

The expedition attracted significant national press attention from the moment of departure. Early reports focused on the audacity of the venture, with headlines such as "Girls to try trans trip by utility", highlighting public skepticism toward an all-female crew attempting the dangerous crossing in an antique vehicle. As the journey progressed, the media heavily romanticized the festive motivation behind the grueling drive, frequently summarizing the expedition in print as traveling "2500 miles for a party."

Upon surviving the Nullarbor plain and approaching their destination, the group was met with an unexpected public reception. Although the women anticipated a quiet arrival after their ten-day ordeal, local motorists and well-wishers had organized a surprise welcome convoy. This convoy met the 1927 Dodge on the outskirts of the city, escorting the "Maribyrnong Six" triumphantly through the streets to celebrate the completion of their historic transcontinental run in time for Christmas.

Roster

The group consisted of:

• Joan Laker
• Margaret Ivanac
• Shirley Hooper
• Betty Hooper
• Dorothy McDonald
• Betty Jackson

Film Adaptation

As of 2026, a full-length feature film based on the 1952 transcontinental journey of the Maribyrnong Six is currently in active development. The screenplay is being co-written by Australian author Alli Sinclair alongside Bill McQueen, the son of original passenger Margaret Ivanac. The narrative features the group's logistics, mechanical struggles with the 1927 Dodge fire engine, and the social dynamics of the era as central plot elements.

References

This article "Maribyrnong Six" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Maribyrnong Six. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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