Donald Campbell made two attempts to break the land speed record in the famous ‘Bluebird’. First in 1963 his attempt had to be abandonded due to rain and flooding of Lake Eyre. Then in July 1964 he returned and Leigh Creek residents had a unique opportunity to witness world history when Donald Campbell broke the land speed record with back-to-back passes on the salt near Muloorina Station, registering an average speed of 403.1mph (648.7km/h).
The Bluebird support convoy parked outside the Leigh Creek Guesthouse 1963 (Enid Blieschke Collection)
1963 in Leigh Creek (Enid Blieschke Collection)
SGT Jack Colmer writing a speeding ticket 1963 (Donna Read)
The rain is coming…1963 (Donna Read)
Access onto the lake bed 1963 (Donna Read)
1963 (Mick Millikan)
1963 (Mick Millikan)
The Millikan Family at Lake Eyre 1963 (Mick Millikan)
Bluebird ready to go 1963 (Donna Read)
Donald Campbell (in blue overalls) with his team in 1963 (Donna Read)
1964 (Donna Read)
1964 Hedley Atkinson)
1964 Hedley Atkinson)
1964 (Hedley Atkinson)
1964 (Hedley Atkinson)
1964 (Hedley Atkinson)
1964 (Donna Read)
1964 The Elfin Catalina Ford used to test the salt track (Hedley Atkinson)
1964 (Hedley Atkinson)
1964 (Donna Read)
1964 (Donna Read)
Peter Read standing next to Bluebird 1964 (Donna Read)
1964 (Donna Read)
Pat Read and Sue Atkinson 1964 (Donna Read)
1964 (Donna Read)
Pat Read inspects the Bluebird cockpit in 1964 (Donna Read)
1964 (Hedley Atkinson)
