Women adventurers of Australia: Jean Robertson and Kathleen Howell

Jean Robertson and Kathleen Howell were the first women to drive across Australia and the first to establish a speed record for doing so.

Jean Robertson and Kathleen Howell Source: State Library Victoria

In 1928, they tried to break the Fremantle to Sydney land-speed record. Car trouble and flooding got in the way but they did set the record for Fremantle to Adelaide by travelling 2824 km in 2 days, 9 hours and 57 minutes.

Jean Robertson and Kathleen Howell Source: National Library of Australia

In 1930, they set off on a journey from Australia to England by car. They drove to Darwin and, from there, made their way through Malaysia, India, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Europe before reaching England in February 1932. They even made time to take part in Italy’s Monte Carlo Rally on their way through.