Today in Australian history (Aug 30) August 30, 1906. : The first driver’s licence in Australia is issued in South Australia. The first petrol-driven car in Australia is believed to have been developed by Harry A Tarrant in 1897. Tarrant went on take over the Ford dealer and assembler franchise in Australia in 1909. The automobile industry developed quickly in Australia, as it did in many other countries, with cars edging out horses and carriages on the roads. With the increased number of automobiles came the need for more rules and controls. In 1888, Karl Benz became the first man, worldwide, to obtain written permission to drive his automobile on public roads after citizens in Mannheim complained about the noise and smell from his vehicle. In 1903, Prussia became the first European state to make a driver’s licence compulsory, and it was soon followed by other European nations. South Australia was the first Australian state to pass a Motor traffic Regulation Act, doing so in 1904. This was followed by the first driver’s licence in Australia, issued on 30 August 1906. The proud owner was William Hargreaves, who held the position of government analyst and chief inspector of explosives in South Australia. Trained as a chemist, Hargreaves had an interest in vehicles and fuel sources, and examined the feasibility of alternative fuel sources during World War I and II, even powering his own automobile on a mixture of molasses and petrol as World War I came to a close.
Posted on: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 05:36:53 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015