EXPLORER'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 24011, 8 July 1941, Page 8

EXPLORER'S DEATH

AUSTRALIAN OVERLANDER

PIONEER OF CAR ROUTES SYDNEY, July 2

Australia's well-known twentieth century explorer, Mr. Francis Birtles, died suddenly while visiting friends in Sydney. He was 08 years of age. During his adventurous life ha crossed or encircled Australia bv cj r cle. motor-cycle, motor-car, truck ana aeroplane no fewer than 88 times. He pioneered the England-Australia car route, via Europe and Singapore; the Sydnev-Frcmantlo route in 1912; Ade-laide-Gulf of Carpentaria route in 1914, and continental east coast route in 1912-13. He cycled twice round Australia; and made the first survey of Central Australia by aeroplane in 1921. It is estimated the late Mr. Birtles cycled 150.000 miles in outback Australia. and travelled 500.000 miles overland in Australia and other continents. He held many trans-Australian cycle and car records. Many of his journeys called for extraordinary endurance and tenacity. , In addition to exploring the outback, he wrote about it and filmed it. His articles appeared from time to time in Australian magazines and newspapers, and he also published records of his adventures in twobooks, 'Lonely Lands" (1908) and "Battlefronts of Outback" (1935).