Grundy's Shoes and the RFDS, two great South Australian institutions.
In May 1926 adventurous South Australian businessman Clarence Judd, whose direct descendants continue to own and operate his business today, Grundy's Shoes, was one of twelve paying passengers on the first Australian commercial Trans-Continental motor tour driving over 7000 kilometres on rough bush tracks from Adelaide to Darwin and back. Captain Edward Bagot was the leader of the party, and principal of "Bagot's Northern Territory Motor Tours".
The trip in two large Studebaker Duplex Phaeton seven seater cars took six weeks to complete and was recorded on film by Clarence. A simple YouTube search of "Overland to Darwin" will bring up an abridged version of the original silent film, the full version is available to view through the State Library of SA archives.
On May 18, 2026, one hundred years to the day since that epic journey began, we will set off once again to follow closely in their tracks to celebrate Clarence and his fellow passengers’ pioneering spirit and raise funds that will benefit the communities they relied upon and visited along the way. Two of the same 1925 Studebaker cars are currently being prepared for the outback journey and will be accompanied by a support team of enthusiastic family and friends.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service provides essential medical service to outback Australia, and so we are proud to have them as our fundraising partner. All funds raised through this page go directly to the RFDS. Costs associated with the re-enactment are being covered by us and the participants with the generous support of Grundy's Shoes.
If you want more information about the trip, or think you can help, please email us at [email protected]
My impact
So far, my fundraising could help…
Provide a full range of life saving medication such as sedatives, pain relief and antibiotics so the Flying Doctor can be ready for 893 emergency situations.
Send 460 life saving-medical chest to remote communities
Provide one on one counselling to 289 outback Australians during a difficult time
Purchase 188 pieces of equipment that could include ventilators, defibrillators and infusion pumps which are used on board flights
Thank you to my supporters
$5.04k
Tony Lowe
$2.04k
Jmc
$1.04k
Jan Thompson
In memory of my cousin Warren Thompson (International Director Studebaker club USA) and my Dad who loved the old cars
$1.04k
Peter Bassett
Congratulations, your epic journey there and back was fabulous to follow. Sadly not well enough to personally hand this small donation over to the fabulous Flying Doctor Service who helped us up in Alice Springs in 1966 and 3 years ago here on Kangaroo Island when they helped to save my lovely wife from cancer at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Cheers from American River.
$1.04k
Cash Tin Donations 18/5/16 To 9/6/26
Cash tin donations 18/5/16 to 9/6/26
$1.03k
Simon Linke
We saw you at Farina bakery. Well done, great fundraiser.
$1.02k
Anonymous
$1.02k
Anonymous
Happy Travels
$822.55
Anonymous
$770
Mecca Car Club Alice Springs
$529
Anonymous
Good Luck & Well Done (to both the travelling party and RFDS.)
$529
Msk.
Well done all of you!!
$500
Ross Mcfadyen
Half way there. Keep on Truckin!
$500
Gawler Car Club
Was a pleasure seeing you off in Gawler
$466.80
Boulia Shire Council Boulia Shire Council
Proceeds from the Boulia Shire Council hosted RFDS fundraiser held in Boulia.
$316.50
Andrew Applebee
$267.25
Kym Osborn
Congratulations. Great adventure
$267.25
Geoff & Ronni Wood
Happy trails guys.
$267.25
Anne And Austin Taylor
What a terrific experience and with so many memories.
$267.25
Malcolm Richards
$267.25
Rebecca Crawford
$267.25
Gerard Miller
Well done Brentons
$267.25
N Stacy
Well done, been following your trip
$261.25
Liz And Peter Mitchell
$246
Jack Mcgennisken
Great job Boys ! Pretty lucky your in a Great Studebaker , I helped crack the Magic $26 K !! 26026 I may join you on the next East to West Run ,ha ha Travel safe ,cheers Jack ,Horsham vic
$215
Maurice Kennedy
Nice to have met you guys and great to watch the movie good luck with the rest of your trip Maurice & Vicki Merc Truck
$215
Suzanne & Tom
Go team!!
$215
Richard H
Amazing adventure, and great photos. Can't wait to hear about it in person.
$215
Glen Morgan
$215
Meegan Sullivan
Personal donation after the Women's Museum of Australia Retro Car Show
$215
John Witts
Great cause,part of the vintage car family.
$215
Studebaker Car Club Of Sa
WELL DONE FROM ALL YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS
$215
David And Marie Furniss
$200
Pink Roadhouse
It was great having you stop for a couple of days and share the history of this journey, good luck with the rest of the adventure!
$200
Mvec
Thank you for bringing a little history to the members of MVEC Parap NT
$200
Anonymous
Awesome
$192.50
Steve Leyden
Great stuff guys. What an awesome journey you have have been on for the previous many, many years in preparation, let alone then recreation of the Oakland to Darwin and back. Great testament to the Studebaker brand and their reliability over one hundred years after they were built and still going strong. The FRDS are the life blood of outback Australia and support so many people when in their time of need. I’m so glad you have supported Aussie people that come across the services of the RFDS.
$169.07
Lindsay Stenniken
Keep up the good work, this is one event we can’t beat you. Have fun
$169.07
June Gosden
Well done guys. My birthday wish is that you raise heaps of cash for such a worthy cause.
$169.07
Ray Taarnby Aka Mrt
Go team BW and BT great pics love following the trip
$162.75
Peter & Kim Neal
Keep up the good work lads
$150
Michael Klein
Great effort with all the planning and preparation put into it ! - a fantastic experience to be a part of !
$110
Roger & Cherie Penhale
Well done to the two Brentons & team members in recreating the original pioneering journey heading north and back. And also raising donations for the RFDS too. Very impressive. Regards Roger & Cherie Very impressive.
$108.24
Bill Macallister
$108.24
Ann Forbes
How exciting. The very best of luck and look forward to hearing all about it over our squashies coffee
$108.24
Tb. And Ab Gawler Sa
To Phil and crew, enjoy the drive was great to catchup on the Proud Mary Cruise
$108.24
Wendy Bell
Congratulations on putting together this amazing experience. Have fun.
$108.24
Ian Turvey
$108.24
Bronwyn Brooks
What a fantastic tribute to your great grandfather, Brenton and such a worthy service to fundraise for.
$108.24
Tim & Chris Grant
Have a great trip. We are enjoying the daily updates and the spectacular scenery. I don't think our 1929 DeSoto Tourer would make the distance without a lot of work. Keep up the good work for the RFDS
$108.24
Frank Mercuri
Good luck guys. Hope you raise a motza of cash
$108.24
Fiona Campbell
$108.24
Cathy Lagnado And Lindsay Richards
Hope it is going well. From Cathy Lagnado and Lindsay Richards
$108.24
Otto
Well done
$108.24
Ian James
Good on ya (!)
$108.24
Gaby Cozamanis
Congratulations on reaching Darwin - fantastic!
$108.24
Robert M Mead
$108.24
Allen Ford
I am a fellow Studebaker owner and i know with rigour to maintenance they will make it there and back , well done to you all , I'll be watching with interest, Allen Ford , Kurmond , NSW .
$108.24
Andrea Volpi
enjoy your travels
$108.24
John Goode
May have given more if your monogram was of a studebaker not a common old A Ford! I’m a Buick man … big tough black iron from America
$108.24
Jeani Meertens
Well done Brenton and Donna
$108.24
Betoota Hotel
$108.24
Banks’
$108.24
David O'loughlin
Well done! Spotted Grundys near Adelaide Oval today in magnificent condition, after such a long journey! Hope to see both at the B2B this year.
$106.12
Michelle Kiley
All the best Brenton, a wonderful endeavour! All the best Michelle
$106.12
Meredith R
Hi I’m Bruce W sister & excited to read your daily updates. Travel well.
$106.12
Ray And Linda Burgess
Well done Guys following the path of your great grandfather. Getting the Stude name out there and fundraising. We enjoy following your travels. great pics. Ray and Linda Studebaker Club SA
$106.12
David Jane Hutchesson
Great job, enjoying the videos and posts. keep up the good work for a great cause. Jane and Dave
$106.12
Quenton Desira
Well done Brenton.
$106.12
Paul
$106.12
David Pink Hsra
Well done!
$106.12
Mulga
Bloody great trip, thanks for inviting me along. We have made history and life long memories.
$102.95
Debra
Have a great trip. Wishing you good weather and no breakdowns!
$102
Andrew
$102
Sarah Whittenbury
great work dad and brenton! been a long 2 years preparing for this!
$102
Claire Whittenbury
Great work dad!
$100
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
$100
Janine And Puzzle Higgins
What an amazing effort by you all. Such a memorable trip for each and every one of you. Hope all goes well for the rest of your venture. Congratulations and best wishes from Janine and Puzzle Higgins
$100
Tracy D
Travel safe and have fun!
$100
Bradley And Rhonda Pfeiffer
$69.58
Josh Hornbuckle
Good to chat at Marree Safe travels
$69.58
R Alcock
$69.58
David Bramwell
Good luck with the trip!
$69.58
Lance Morgan
Only caught up with this adventure recently and loving the posts, and a worthy charity recipient to boot.
$69.58
Anonymous
$69.58
Jill Chapman
Safe travels to the whole team. Loving following your journey.
$69.58
Tom’s Shed
$64
John Hutton
A Dodge Brothers would have done the trip too!
$54.84
Angus Russell
$54.84
Robyn Dennard
Happy to donate and promote your fabulous trip. We have had to use RFD and could never thank them enough for their care.
$54.84
Lyndal Ashley
So fabulous to see you guys at Coward Springs today ! I even got to sit in the car ! Good luck with the rest of this amazing journey .. Lyndal and Rob
$54.84
Jann Taylor & John Taylor
Love that your following you grandfather’s footsteps
$54.84
Graeme
Great work team.
$54.84
Anonymous
$54.84
Michael Schell
$54.84
Glenn Plymin
Awesome job of fundraiser for an iconic & uniquely Australian service.
$54.84
David Van Der Jeugd
Good work Brenton. I enjoyed you Oodnadatta photos. I spent Xmas & New Year 2013/14 working there.
$54.84
Gildi Carty
Hope you’re having an amazing trip 🙏💙
$54.84
Maarten Ryder
Very happy to support your efforts and RFDS
$54.84
Paul Innes
Thankyou for all your efforts to raise money for The Royal Flying Doctor Service ... and for sharing this huge adventure with us.
$54.84
Michelle Burchill
Awesome work Team … From Marree Clinic Nurse
$54.84
Clem Peeler
Congratulations on the achievement. Clem
$54.84
Andrée
Well done on a great trek
$54.84
Nerida Paraons
We saw you at Farina in the way up - impressive machines and efforts by all. And good cause 😀
$53.64
Jason Bentley
My friend Denise Gaskill posted this on Facebook. I didn’t even know about it and I live in Adelaide. Anyway good luck I’ll pop it on my Facebook page
$50
Cathy Ross
Fantastic journey , well done
$37.15
Di Smith
What a challenge. And what a ride. Saw you in Marree.
$37.15
S & S Hurle
$37.15
Granta Ashmeade
$37.15
David Jones
$33.87
Jo Smith
What an amazing trip to undertake and thanks for taking us on your journey through your Facebook posts, very interesting and entertaining. Well done with the fundraising for the RFDS - great effort.
$33
Anonymous
Good luck
$28.43
Victor J Samson
$23.50
Audrey D
Best of luck. We followed the Shanghai to Paris years!! ago
$23.50
Ballsrolling Ball
Great job, bumped into you guys on the 23rd on our way to Farina 👍
$23.50
Denise Gaskell
$23.50
Elizabeth
$23.50
Alex Willis
$11.80
Judy Hayter
Best wishes for a safe trip. May it be one free from mechanical problems.
$11.80
Anonymous
$11.80
Anonymous
Wish i could give more. Lucky you
$11.80
