Bubsie and the Boys by David Riley

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.

About the Author: David Riley is a history and vintage car enthusiast with a love of travel and adventure. David is a father, husband and pastor living and working in Newcastle, but with roots in inner-west Sydney and a love for the South Sydney rugby league club.

28 Oct 2025

Bubsie and the Boys: The First Journey Around Australia By Car by David Riley ISBN 9781923352117