REAR VIEW

4X4 AUSTRALIA LOOKS BACK AT THE CHANGES IN THE INDUSTRY, THE RISE IN OUTBACK TOURING, THE EVOLUTIONARY SOPHISTICATION OF 4X4S AND MORE...

- 

30 YEARS AGO - DECEMBER 1995

Three decades ago, we were talking about HF radios and the Radphone services available across Australia – the go-to solution for long-distance communication back then, when anything beyond 20-30km was out of range! How times have changed. While HF remains an option, today satphones and Starlink make remote communication easier and far more effective.

We relied on HF during our major feature for that issue – the ‘Footsteps’ expedition, retracing Hann’s 1898 track and Brockman’s 1901 journey. Looking back, it was a fabulous adventure through remote Kimberley country that’s even harder to reach today.

Our vehicle tests included the Holden Frontera and the Asia Motors Rocsta – both now confined to the dusty pages of history – along with the then all-new Nissan Pathfinder, back when it still had low range.

20 YEARS AGO - DECEMBER 2005

There were adventures aplenty in this issue, with Moonie leading a trip up and across Cape York, while then-editor Dean Mellor retraced Cecil Madigan’s 1939 journey across the Simpson Desert. Meanwhile, others were crossing Australia on ATVs, exploring the country and waterholes around Lake Eyre, while yet another adventurous couple recreated the remarkable 1970s desert rescue of what became known as the last of the desert nomads.

We tested the latest Discovery TDV6 and the soft-roader Murano ST, while our comparison for the month pitted the Grand Cherokee against the Discovery HSE. Both were fine machines, but I’d leave them at home if I were heading into the kind of remote desert country our fearless contributors tackled that month.

There was plenty more, including features on driving in bulldust, our thoughts on the Trayon slide-on camper, and a look at the USA-made Ready Welder – the latter a great bit of kit.