Bubsie and the Boys: The First Journey Around Australia By Car

by David Riley

Setting off on a “big lap” of Australia is an adventure today, but 100 years ago it was truly pioneering—especially when it wasn’t what you’d originally set out to do.

In 1925, there were no serviced roads in the great outback. No petrol stations. Nobody had ever driven the northern route from Perth to Darwin. So when 21-year-old Nevill Westwood approached his employer with a plan to explore the possibilities of outback Western Australia and the Northern Territory, there was some trepidation. But no-one else was volunteering to go.
The journey that began with two young missionaries setting out on an errand for their church soon became an epic adventure through rugged landscapes and vast cattle stations. Travelling in a tiny second-hand Citroën nicknamed “Bubsie”—a car with less power than a modern ride-on lawnmower—the boys glimpsed the triumphs and tragedies of life in early 20th-century Australia, met memorable characters and ultimately found themselves in a race to be the first to lap the continent.

This is the true story of Bubsie and the boys.


David Riley now lives and works in Newcastle, but his youth was spent in inner-western Sydney, where he developed a love for the South Sydney Rugby League Club, of which he is still an avid fan.

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2025

Reviews

[Stephen Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing that this story hasn’t been told before now. It’s a great yarn of two young Aussie blokes on an adventure around Australia in a little borrowed Citroën with half the horse power of a ride on lawn mower against unbelievable odds, the harsh Aussie outback, and some formidable competition to get to the finish line first. It is a story that needed to be told! I couldn’t put the book down. Their youthful spirit of adventure, their “never-say-die” attitude and their faith that fuelled their determination was inspiring!

David has balanced this story well and blended some fascinating Aussie history with some other amazing adventurers with some incredible stories of their own that i hadn’t heard before. Some of the stories are hard to read and harder to accept as part of our history in dealing with First Nation’s people. But it’s important we remember and learn from the mistakes of our past.

If you are a motoring enthusiast, if you have done the one big lap around Australia (or are considering it), if you love a good yarn, or if you are a history buff and enjoy a bit of Aussie history and adventure, you will love this book! It’s a great read with something for everyone.

[Thelma Wawrzonek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book . What a great adventure story which resonated a lot with me as I have travelled by 4wd through most of the same places. but of course 100 yrs after means there are many real differences now. BUT then there are many places ‘outback’ that probably are very likely much the same in physical similarities - isolated, no phone range, 100kms from fuel and many dirt roads are still often in a dreadful state.

Impressed with the research and details about the various towns and stations the boys visited and how the author carefully respectfully included some history of various aboriginal massacres by the white man.

Really appreciated the photos in the book.

Grateful for the ‘honest’ narrative of the very different personalities of the two blokes Nevill Westwood & Greg Davies. And how the book includes how their one year journey ended up in conflict. I get the feeling this is not a ‘sanitised’ ‘Christian’ version but a reliable narrative of two very different idealistic young blokes who tackled unknown adversity and constant problem solving experiences.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is best listened to in David Riley’s classic Aussie accent on audible or other such platforms. It’s a non preachy history of a great achievement by young missionaries who were too inexperienced to know what couldn’t/shouldn’t be done. I loved the constant reminder of the First Nations and the colorful history of Australia that comes up with the descriptions of each town. This is a good way to understand Australia’s complicated history and the competition between their states. It could make many one want to do the iconic road trip. The human element was really compassionate as well.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect to be as absorbed by this story as I was. A road trip around Australia in a tiny Citroën in 1925 could have easily felt repetitive, but this story is vivid, engaging, and surprisingly energising.

I listened to the audiobook, which worked exceptionally well. The narration is calm, assured, and distinctly Australian, and it carries the story with ease. The author brings the setting, characters, and historical moment to life, capturing the rhythm of travel. Long days, early mornings, and the quiet beauty revealed at sunrise after long hours on the night-darkened road, without overdoing the detail.

What stood out most was the breadth of perspective. Historical, social, and political context is woven in with a light but confident touch, and the treatment of Indigenous peoples and their stories is handled with dignity and care. The photographs add another layer, making the journey feel tangible and grounded.

This book deepened my perspective and knowledge and it stayed with me after I finished. I felt both as though I had travelled alongside the protagonists and keenly aware of the hardships they had faced.

Unexpectedly, I finished the book feeling energised. There’s a real sense of forward momentum, carried by the author’s steady passion for the subject and the enthusiasm of the young people at the centre of the story. As a parent, I found their achievement quietly inspiring.

A thoughtful, engaging, and memorable book for motoring enthusiasts, history buffs, teens and adults alike.

[Jo Rankin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read! I loved the Aussie lingo and the style of storytelling that didn’t embellish fiction onto the facts yet remained engaging. True history can be a bit dry, but Bubsie and the Boys held my interest with details of two incredibly resourceful young men with very different personalities, outback station life, little-travelled roads (or tracks) and Australian attitudes and culture in the 1920s. Side stories and historical details relevant to the time and the journey added to the story.
We got to know Nevill and Greg and travelled with them on their unlikely journey around our vast continent in a tiny Citroen. Highly recommended!

[Lana Banana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bubsie and the Boys is one of those rare books that made me feel like part of their adventure all the way through.
By the end, I honestly felt like I’d gotten to know Nevill, Greg and even Bubsie as friends.

I was amazed by the level of detail in the story, and it made me laugh so many times - especially at their creative solutions like turning the wheels inside out.

I loved learning about all the places they visited along the way and the histories behind them. The whole book has inspired me to travel Australia for myself one day!

I highly recommend this incredible read full of history, humour and great characters!

[Nelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely inspired to actually take the same trip as Bubsie, with Tassie, our camper trailer. Loved this book so much and learned about so much Australian history. It was also interesting to learn a bit more about the seventh day Adventists.

The book itself was so well-written and was definitely a page turner. Even knowing the outcome, it was still suspenseful near the end, knowing there were two other drivers following in the dust of Bubsie!

[Jared Madden · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s no grandstanding here, just unfiltered Australian history told through ordinary people pushed into extraordinary circumstances. You can feel the dust, the breakdowns, the unexpected hospitality, and the sheer grit that carried them forward. What lingers, though, are the deeper threads: mateship, resilience, and the quiet determination that shaped so much of this country. For anyone who wants to see an unfiltered view of Australian history, real people, real struggle, real courage, this book is well worth reading.

[Shari Coburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this true Australian Story. It is a remarkable story of adventure - well written with humorous anecdotes, great characters, and visual imagery of the Australian landscape. You also get a snapshot of life in Australia as it was being established as a nation, as it touches on historical events, practices, and attitudes that have impacted this country – the ones to be celebrated, and many we simply cannot.

This truly is a great read for kids and adults alike 10/10.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw the yellow Citroën at the Australian National Museum in Canberra, I had no idea I'd be reading a very interesting book about her! Loving maps, I was delighted to see a map at the beginning of each chapter, following her journey. There are delightful stories, characters, landscapes, and difficulties, all so interestingly depicted in the book. Great read!

[Joseph Champness · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful and captivating true story of the first attempted lap around Australia by car. It's a great Australian yarn. Highly recommend!

[Lesley]

fascinating

[Angela Plisko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love a true account of part of Australian history combined with a story of spirit, survival and tenacity!