Documentary maker Mal Leyland returns to WA to recreate famed journey 60 years on

Mal Leyland, one half of the Leyland brothers documentary-making team, stopped in Geraldton on Wednesday afternoon as he prepared to re-create one of his famed journeys 60 years later.

Watching Mike and Mal Leyland explore the country was a national pastime in the 1960s and 70s, as they went off the beaten track to document unseen corners of Australia. They brought the outback to the screen in a way it had never been seen before.

Six decades after one of their most watched documentaries, Wheels Across The Wilderness, Mal, now 81, is retracing his steps with his daughter Carmen. His brother Mike died in 2009.

The 1966 documentary saw the two brothers embark on a five-month journey that took them from the westernmost point of mainland Australia to the easternmost — Steep Point in WA to Cape Byron in NSW.

They travelled in a four-wheel drive across the Simpson desert, recording their travels along the way.

The Leylands stopped at the HMAS Sydney Memorial on Wednesday afternoon on the way to start their four-week journey travelling more than 5000km across the country.

Leyland said he enjoyed spending time in different parts of the country, and that “every area is special in its own way”.

What was the biggest difference now, compared with 60 years ago?

“The roads are nicer to drive on now,” he said. “They’re highways, basically. Back in the old days, there were a lot of gravel roads.”

Based in Cairns, the family are raising money for a museum on the brothers’ accomplishments, and their partners’ contributions to the family legacy.

“We’ll add a little museum, which will tell the story of not just the Leyland brothers, but the story of my mum and dad as well. My mum and my Aunty Pat were a very integral part of the Leyland Brothers team that tend to be forgotten,” Ms Leyland said.

Ms Leyland was most looking forward to crossing the Simpson Desert, and travelling with her dad.

“To do this with Dad means a lot to me, reliving the journey together,” she said.

They have travelled together since Ms Leyland was a child, and Leyland said he was looking forward to travelling with her again.