Transport and distribution played a pivotal role in the
early history of Australia, and determined the rate and diversity
of growth. The problems associated with establishing an efficient
system of transporting people, food and merchandise, to and
from, and within the vast island continent were many and various.
The first 100 years of transport relied heavily on imported
technology, vehicles and methods, which were quickly adapted
to local conditions and applications.
With each new technological development in transport, came
profound new social changes that directly impacted on where
people lived, how well they prospered and how towns were planned.
In the beginning, convicts and later bullocks, were used
to haul carts laden with goods over dirt tracks. The construction
of bridges enabled roads and railways to reach the arid inland,
and served as lifelines for new settlements and essential
corridors for trade. The introduction of clippers on the Australian
routes reduced the sailing time between England and Australia
from 140 days to just 70. But it was the introduction of the
aeroplane which finally conquered the vast distances that
isolated Australia, both from itself, and the rest of the
world for so long. And the advent of mass unrestricted movement
with the introduction of motor cars completely changed the
living and recreational patterns of the population, encouraging
urban sprawl.
Australian inventors were actively involved with developments
of both aircraft and automobiles at the very early stages,
and played significant roles in the evolution of both. In
shipping, Australian companies were among the first to use
roll on roll off technology.
Today, Australia has a sophisticated public and private transport
system that efficiently links the capital cities with remote
country villages, railway networks with sea ports, and the
nation with the rest of the world.
Australia has made many important contributions to transport
technology. These include the 'black box' flight recorder
and the inflatable aircraft escape slide which doubles as
a raft.
As a major exporter of natural resources and primary produce,
with vast distances from mines and agricultural centres to
sea ports, Australia has also developed an extensive and highly
sophisticated materials handling infrastructure. Approximately
75 per cent of all freight travels by road on the more than
2.5 million kilometres of sealed roads. Road trains 62 wheel
rigs comprising a prime mover with up to three multi decked
trailers haul livestock and farm produce from remote stations
to rail heads and distribution points. Two kilometre long
trains carry coal and iron ore from mines to sea ports. Even
the postman delivers the mail to remote outback stations and
farms in a light aircraft.
Recent notable innovations from Australia include a variety
of developments, from advances in naval architectural design
to sea rescue equipment, and the orbital engine to an imaginative
new tyre valve. These and many other internationally significant
products and technologies from Australia are reviewed in the
following pages.
Public Notice:
Due to an unresolved dispute
with the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade),
who copied and adopted as their own certain material from
Tomorrow's World, the Australian Initiative, and published
the material in their Australia Open for Business website,
without remorse or recompense, access
by Australian Government servers to this online edition
has been blocked indefinitely.
