A Final Outback Odyssey: Mal Leyland’s Quest to Relive a Legendary Journey
Mal Leyland, a name synonymous with the rugged beauty and untamed spirit of Australia, traces a weathered finger across a map. At 81, with a lifetime of adventures etched into his being, he’s planning “one more trip” – a poignant echo of the journeys that catapulted him and his late brother, Mike, into the hearts of Australians. If his health permits, Mal will embark on a pilgrimage next month, retracing the epic “Wheels Across a Wilderness” expedition completed 60 years ago. This potential final outback sojourn will be shared with his daughter, Carmen, son-in-law Jon Evans, and a contingent of fellow Leyland Brothers enthusiasts.
Mal candidly acknowledges the challenges. “I’ve had some issues with my health,” he confides, revealing his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease two years ago. “One more trip would be pretty good,” he muses. “Maybe it’ll be my last trip, I don’t know. One day there will be a last trip, because one day I’m going to fall off my perch.”
For a generation of Australians in the 1970s, the Leyland Brothers’ television programs, “Off the Beaten Track” and “Ask the Leyland Brothers,” were more than just entertainment. They were a window into the soul of remote Australia, showcasing the brothers’ mild-mannered demeanour as they navigated swollen creeks and camped on the fringes of vast, red deserts. This exposure to the far-flung corners of the continent, and its breathtaking beauty, was a first for many. Their blend of daring expeditions and approachable personalities made their shows essential family viewing throughout the 70s and 80s.
Before their television fame, the brothers honed their craft through four independent documentaries. Their skills were forged by their prior experiences: Mike as a news cameraman and Mal as a newspaper photographer. Carmen highlights “Wheels Across a Wilderness” as her father’s most cherished journey. This ambitious expedition saw the brothers traverse the continent from Steep Point, the westernmost tip of Australia, to Cape Byron in the east, venturing through the formidable Simpson Desert along the way.
“They were the first to cross from one side to the other by a vehicle, which was an astounding achievement in that time,” Carmen remarks. Their groundbreaking film and photography captured unprecedented images of Uluru’s waterfalls during the wet season. “It was the most successful production that they ever did and the most memorable,” she adds. Mal, too, holds vivid recollections of that landmark trip, cherishing the profound highs and lows that have imprinted themselves on his memory. The prospect of adding to these treasured recollections with one more trek across the land he adores is a powerful motivator.
Laraine: The Unwavering Anchor
Amidst the rugged landscapes and daring exploits, the brightest star in Mal’s life was his wife, Laraine. “She was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Mal declares, his voice filled with enduring affection. “Meeting her was the highlight of my life. She was the highlight of my life, and in my memory, she still is.” Laraine, alongside Mike’s first wife Pat, was a constant presence during the filming of “Ask the Leyland Brothers.” They not only brought their young children along but also offered practical advice to viewers on mastering the art of setting up camp.
Carmen speaks of her parents’ extraordinary bond, and Laraine’s passing in 2018 left Mal adrift. “It caused him to go into a very depressive state,” she explains. “That first 12 to 24 months, he really, really struggled to move on with his life. He felt very lost. My mum was the centre of his life. His whole reason for living was for my mum.” Laraine was Mal’s steadfast support through financial hardships, a bladder cancer diagnosis, and the profound sorrow of estrangement from his brother Mike, a rift that widened after their ambitious tourism venture, Leyland Brothers World.
The Shadow of Leyland Brothers World
The dream of Leyland Brothers World began with great promise. As their television reign began to wane in the mid-80s, the brothers envisioned a tourist park centred around a colossal replica of Uluru. With a combined net worth of approximately $6.5 million, they secured a substantial loan to bring their vision to life. However, the project stretched over seven years, during which interest rates skyrocketed to an astonishing 26 per cent. Upon its opening in 1990, some bills remained unsettled, and the bank sought repayment.
The houses were registered under the wives’ names. Laraine was hesitant to sign her home over, but Mal persuaded her. This decision remains one of his deepest regrets. “I can’t forgive myself for what I did that day, because I went against my wife’s instincts and I forced my will on her, which was really the worst thing I could ever have done. But to her great credit, she hasn’t held it against me,” Mal confesses. Within two years, the venture imploded, leaving a trail of disgruntled creditors, negative publicity, and the decimation of the Leyland Brothers’ fortune. “It was a nightmare,” Mal reflects. “It started out as a dream and it turned into a nightmare.”
Adding to the pain were Mike’s accusations that Mal had channelled private expenses through the company’s accounts. “I couldn’t believe that he didn’t trust me,” Mal stated in 2015. “Of all people, of all things, what we’d been through — and then he turned around, accused me of ripping him off. The partnership that Mike and I had for 29 years was crumbling before my eyes and I knew it would never be the same again. Our relationship was damaged permanently after that and it never really recovered.”
Mal and Laraine embarked on a period of rebuilding. They relocated to a 10-hectare property in Glen Innes, NSW, living in shipping containers while they constructed their home, felling and milling their own timber. Shortly after, Mal was diagnosed with advanced bladder cancer, necessitating surgery to remove a significant tumour. He attributes his recovery, in part, to the chemical-free food they cultivated on their property.
Mal had minimal contact with Mike until one day, a car pulled into their driveway. Mike and his second wife, Margie Leyland, emerged. Mal was taken aback by his brother’s frail appearance; Mike had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. During their final meeting, Mike sat in an armchair as Mal recounted their shared adventures. “I said, ‘How would you like to do one more trip?’,” Mal recalled in 2015. “And this little glint came in his eye and one side of his face moved and he mouthed the only two words he said while I was there. He said, ‘One more’.” Tragically, this shared dream would remain unfulfilled, as Mike passed away at the age of 68.
The Slow Fade and the Power of Memory
In recent years, Carmen began to notice changes in her father. “My hero,” as she calls him, became forgetful, repetitive, and his stories, once so vivid, began to blur. He even went missing on a few occasions. His son-in-law, Jon, wryly noted the potential irony of a headline: “Police are searching for Mal Leyland who’s lost in bushland.” The family made the difficult decision for Mal to move to Cairns to live with them. The official Alzheimer’s diagnosis two years ago was not a surprise.
“The hardest thing has been watching this man that I idolised my whole life slowly disappear in front of my eyes,” Carmen shares, her voice heavy with emotion. “We are definitely dreading the day when it gets to the point where we realise that we can’t take care of him anymore.” Despite the challenges, Mal retains his sharp wit. When asked about his dementia diagnosis, he jokes, “Being a bit crackers isn’t too bad — it’s being really mad that’s a problem.”
Mal still finds solace and connection in his memories of the Leyland Brothers era. When his recollection falters, he turns to his extensive collection of photographs. “Having dementia is interesting,” Mal observes, “because it depends a little bit on what it affects. If you’ve got a good memory of the good things in life, the good things are far more important.”
A Museum of Memories: Celebrating a Television Icon
The upcoming 60th-anniversary re-enactment of “Wheels Across a Wilderness” is providing Mal with a renewed sense of purpose and excitement. The plan is to meticulously follow the original route, with the Leyland family convoy joined by 10 other vehicles. These participating groups are contributing financially to this adventure, with the proceeds earmarked for a new venture: the Mal Leyland Museum and Photographic Gallery in Cairns. A special section within the gallery will be dedicated to a cafeteria named “Lara’s Café,” a heartfelt tribute to Mal’s enduring love for his late wife.
“It was always Dad’s dream to open up a gallery and showcase his work [but he] never got the opportunity to do it quite the way he wanted to,” Carmen explains. They have already digitised approximately 2,500 of Mal’s photographs, but Carmen acknowledges, “we have barely even scratched the surface.” The collection will also include contemporary photographs if Mal is well enough to embark on further travels. His cameras are the first items Mal intends to pack for his “one more trip.” “I’d take a couple of cameras,” he says. “I’d have a video camera of course … and I would be in my element doing what I love.”
Mal reflects on his life with a sense of profound gratitude. “I think I’ve had a pretty good run,” he concludes. “I think I’ve had an influence on people wanting to travel. I think that’s been a good part of what I’ve achieved in my life. I’d like to be remembered as a person who was a traveller, photographer and lover of life … And I had a wonderful wife to do it with.”
