Fabled Lost Reef ‘a hoax’

Press, 23 September 1983, Page 6

Fabled Lost Reef ‘a hoax’

NZPA Mackay Lasseter’s Lost Reef, the fabled mountain of gold somewhere in Australia’s Dead Heart, was nothing more than a hoax dreamed up by two camel train drivers in the 19205, it was claimed by one of the drivers yesterday. Hans Erikson, now aged 83, said that he and another man were running a camel train from Oodnadatta to Alice Springs in the 1920 s when they hit on the idea as a way to make some money. “There were only 15 white people in the Alice in those days and my friend and I bought a few samples of gold and gave them to four down-and-out prospectors,” said Mr Erikson.

“We told them to go bush for a few weeks then come back to Alice to register their non-existent claims. Two of the blokes shot through and one who did come back was Harry Lasseter,” said Mr Erikson.

The plan was to spark a gold rush which would generate increased business for the camel train. Mr Erikson said that his partner had died recently and he was now able to tell the truth without involving anyone else. “What a pity no-one will believe me now. But it’s the only absolutely true story I’ve ever told,” said the former 1932 America’s Cup crew member on the boat, Ranger. Countless expeditions to find the mythical Lasseter’s Reef said to lie in the Peterman Ranges west of Ayers Rock have failed, but Lance Harold Bell Lasseter himself has become entrenched in Australian folklore as the intrepid bushman prepared to risk his life in a relentless search for bis goal.

Mr Lasseter died in 1930 after his camels bolted leaving him to walk unaided across the scorched Gibson Desert.