Mal Leyland, a name synonymous with Australian adventure and exploration, is planning one final journey across the vast, rugged landscapes that once propelled him and his late brother, Mike, into national stardom. At 81, and with a recent diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, Mal is contemplating a reprise of the epic “Wheels Across a Wilderness” expedition they completed 60 years ago. This potential farewell trip, if his health permits, will see him accompanied by his daughter Carmen, son-in-law Jon Evans, and a contingent of Leyland Brothers enthusiasts.
“One more trip would be pretty good,” Mal shares, acknowledging the bittersweet reality that this might be his last foray into the outback. “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 were the gateway to the remote beauty of their own country. Their television programs, “Off the Beaten Track” and “Ask the Leyland Brothers,” captivated audiences with their mild-mannered demeanour contrasting sharply with the daring expeditions they undertook. They navigated swollen creeks, camped on the fringes of immense red deserts, and brought the untamed spirit of Australia into living rooms across the nation.
Before their television fame, the brothers honed their filmmaking and photography skills through four independent documentaries. Mike’s experience as a news cameraman and Mal’s background as a newspaper photographer provided the foundation for their groundbreaking work.
The Landmark Expedition: Wheels Across a Wilderness
Carmen highlights “Wheels Across a Wilderness” as her father’s most cherished adventure. This ambitious journey saw the brothers traverse Australia from its westernmost point, Steep Point, to its easternmost, Cape Byron, with a significant detour through the formidable Simpson Desert.
“They were the first to cross from one side to the other by a vehicle, which was an astounding achievement in that time,” Carmen explains. Their pioneering efforts extended to capturing the first-ever film and photographs of the waterfalls at Uluru during the wet season, offering a unique perspective on the iconic landmark.
“It was the most successful production that they ever did and the most memorable,” Carmen reflects. Mal, too, holds vivid recollections of this monumental trip, noting that the most profound moments, both joyous and challenging, have remained etched in his memory. He sees this planned expedition as an opportunity to add a few more cherished memories to an already rich tapestry of experiences.
Laraine: The Highlight of His Life
Central to Mal’s “really good times” was the profound connection he shared with his late wife, Laraine. “She was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Mal states with deep emotion. “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, often accompanied the brothers on their filming expeditions, bringing their young children and sharing practical camping tips with viewers. Carmen describes their parents’ bond as exceptionally special. Laraine’s passing in 2018 left Mal devastated.
“It caused him to go into a very depressive state,” Carmen reveals. “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 provided unwavering support through significant hardships, including financial difficulties, Mal’s diagnosis with bladder cancer, and the painful estrangement from his brother Mike following the ill-fated “Leyland Brothers World” tourism venture.
The Rise and Fall of Leyland Brothers World
The mid-1980s saw the Leyland Brothers’ television presence begin to wane, prompting them to pursue a new venture: a tourist park centred around a colossal replica of Uluru. Their combined assets, valued at approximately $6.5 million, were leveraged with a substantial loan for this ambitious project.
The construction, however, spanned seven years, during which interest rates soared to a staggering 26 per cent. By the park’s opening in 1990, some bills remained outstanding, and the bank sought repayment. Mal’s wife, Laraine, was hesitant to sign over her house as security, but Mal persuaded her.
This decision remains one of Mal’s most profound 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,” he confesses. “But to her great credit, she hasn’t held it against me.”
Within two years, the venture collapsed, leaving a trail of disgruntled creditors, negative publicity, and the decimation of the Leyland Brothers’ fortune. “It was a nightmare,” Mal recalls. “It started out as a dream and it turned into a nightmare.”
The financial fallout was compounded by Mike’s accusations that Mal had misappropriated company funds for personal expenses. “I couldn’t believe that he didn’t trust me,” Mal said 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 had defined their lives for 29 years fractured irrevocably. “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.”
Rebuilding and Reconciliation
Mal and Laraine embarked on rebuilding their lives, relocating to a 10-hectare property in Glen Innes, NSW. They lived in shipping containers while constructing their home, even cutting their own timber. Shortly after, Mal faced another health battle with advanced bladder cancer, requiring surgery to remove a significant tumour. He credits the chemical-free produce they cultivated on their property for aiding his recovery.
Years passed with limited contact between Mal and Mike. The brothers were reunited when Mike, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, visited Mal with his second wife, Margie. Mal was struck by his brother’s frailty. During their final meeting, as Mal reminisced about their shared adventures, he asked Mike if he’d like to do “one more trip.” Mike’s response, a faint glint in his eye and a whispered “One more,” offered a poignant glimpse of their enduring bond. Sadly, Mike passed away at the age of 68 before this wish could be fulfilled.
The Shadow of Alzheimer’s and the Power of Memory
In recent years, Carmen noticed changes in her father. His forgetfulness, repetition, and the blurring of his past adventures led to him going missing on a few occasions. The irony of a potential headline, “Police are searching for Mal Leyland who’s lost in bushland,” was not lost on the family.
The official Alzheimer’s diagnosis two years ago provided a name for these struggles, though it offered little solace to Carmen. “The hardest thing has been watching this man that I idolised my whole life slowly disappear in front of my eyes,” she admits. “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 characteristic wit. He jokes about his diagnosis, stating, “Being a bit crackers isn’t too bad — it’s being really mad that’s a problem.” He finds solace in his extensive collection of photographs, which help him piece together the fragments of his memories.
“Having dementia is interesting,” Mal muses, “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 to Honour a Legacy
The 60th anniversary of “Wheels Across a Wilderness” is providing Mal with a vital focus. The planned expedition will closely follow the original route, with a convoy of 10 other vehicles joining the Leyland family. The funds generated from these participants will contribute to a new venture: the Mal Leyland Museum and Photographic Gallery in Cairns. A dedicated café, “Lara’s Café,” will be a tribute to his beloved 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 over 2,500 of Mal’s photographs, with many more awaiting preservation.
Should Mal’s health allow, he intends to bring his cameras on this final trip, eager to capture new images and immerse himself in the activity he loves. “I’d take a couple of cameras,” Mal says. “I’d have a video camera of course … and I would be in my element doing what I love.”
Reflecting on his life, Mal considers it a “pretty good run.” He hopes his work has inspired others to explore Australia. “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.”
