| Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) (56 min.) ; 337856071 bytes |
| Summary |
*Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following program contains images and voices of people who have died*Throughout the 20th century the car has been tangled up in the social, political and economic fabric of Australia. It conquered the interior, shaped the design of our cities, was the basis of our manufacturing industry for many years, and created some of our best-loved heroes. Wide Open Road follows three key themes: how a group of maverick petrol heads were able to unite the country by conquering the vast distances between the main colonial cities and towns; how cars were agents of change for numerous Australians keen to prove themselves on four wheels; and how the industry of making cars became the mainstay of our manufacturing industry.In 1912 Francis Birtles set out to drive from the west to the east coast of Australia. Early adventurers such as Birtles began using cars imported from the US, then gradually Australia's own to conquer the inhospitable terrain and vast distances.Many Australians have become heroes because of what they did while sitting behind the wheel of a car. Alice Anderson was the most famous woman in Melbourne in the 1920s because she was a mechanic and the chosen chauffeur of the rich.Speed was something that Australians always loved, and our history includes a long line of racing car drivers from Norm 'Wizard' Smith to Jack Brabham, Alan Jones and Mark Webber.Now our dependence on the car has caused congestion on city roads to the extent that people feel imprisoned by their cars. And the disinterest in hybrid electric cars proves that, deep down, we're still a nation of rev heads - despite the price of petrol!PRODUCTION DETAILS:Bombora Film and Music Co produced. Directed by Paul Clarke |
| Event |
Broadcast 2011-10-16 at 19:30:00 |
| Notes |
Classification: PG |
| Subject |
Automobile driving -- Social aspects.
|
|
Automobile racing drivers.
|
|
Automobiles, Racing -- Models.
|
|
Australia.
|
| Form |
Streaming video
|
| Author |
Clarke, Paul, director
|
|
Fairbrother, Graham, cast
|
|
Field, David, cast
|
|
Gunn, Brady, cast
|
|
Stojanovic, Melissa, cast
|
|
