From the wide ranging collection of the late Darwin resident researcher Vern O'Brien -now in the Genealogical Society of the Northern Territory - comes this faded and possibly roneoed pamphlet, designed to attract adventurous overseas tourists .
It includes a currency conversion table for the US dollar , French , Swiss and Belgian francs , South African rand, German Deutschemark, Austrian schilling, Japanese yen, Italian lira and Sterling . Ladies desirous of venturing into the Outback were advised to pack jodhpurs; gentlemen , shorts , smoking facilities , binoculars and a notebook .
Rifles provided by the experienced guide were .303 and .22 calibre ; no pistols allowed .
Itineraries for 1963 four wheel drive trips to Central Australia , Birdsville and Strzelecki Tracks, Sturt and Burke and Wills Expeditions are provided in detail . Started by Jeff Findley in 1959, Back of Beyond Tours departed from Adelaide on trips of seven to 22 days , extended if required , the most expensive one costing 295 pounds. Places visited included the opal mining town of Coober Pedy, Mount Olga , Ayers Rock (Uluru ), Alice Springs , Standley Chasm , Innamincka, Coward Springs , Dalhousie Springs , Leigh Creek , Marree , Port Pirie .
An early stop for lunch on the first day in most tours was Clare ,the wine making area north of Adelaide. Even in those days there was no escaping the outside world in the outback . Telegrams or cables could be sent or received during the trips by transceiver equipment in the Land Rover . In the case of letters, they were to be sent air mail, care of the Alice Springs, Oodnadatta and Cloncurry Post Offices. Drive yourself tours were also arranged as well as air tours .
