What is a bush mechanic? A bush mechanic is someone who uses practical know-how, basic tools and whatever materials are available to make an emergency repair in a remote location. In Australia, that might mean fencing wire, cable/ zip ties, timber, a tin, a strap or a salvaged part used to get a vehicle or piece of station equipment safely back to camp or a workshop. Talk to anyone who has experienced life on a cattle station and there's sure to be a yarn about a bush mechanic fix!
Australian bush mechanics are famous for resourcefulness. Across cattle stations, remote roads and stock camps, a breakdown can happen hundreds of kilometres from the nearest mechanic. These true stories and photos, shared by the RFTTE community, show some of the clever temporary repairs people have used to get themselves out of trouble.
Important: These are community stories, not repair instructions. Many fixes shown were temporary emergency measures and may be unsafe or illegal on public roads. If possible, stop in a safe place, contact roadside assistance or a qualified mechanic, and have any temporary repair professionally inspected before continuing. (Had to put that in, sorry. Let common sense and logical thinking prevail!)
IMAGE: This bush mechanic yarn happened near Ellenbrae Station on the Gibb River Road in the Kimberley, it's a beauty…
“This photo was shared with us by Allan. He and his family were travelling in the Kimberley in 1986 when their back axle broke near the Gibb River Road. When it happened they sat down, had a cup of tea and came up with the plan you see in the photo. They drove the 110km like this from the corner of the Kalumburu Road all the way back to Derby, even passing a tourist bus to get a reaction. This is certainly thinking outside the box to get off the Gibb River Road!”
Here are a few more great bush mechanics and ingenious Australians; and you never know, some of these may help you out one day… and if you have one to share on social media please tag it #ingeniousaustralians or add it to the thread on the RFTTE FB Group or send yours to RFTTE via email
Bush Mechanics videos
Are these the most insane car hacks?! Join the Black As boys and their insane mechanical hacks in the Aussie outback...
Watch the Black As bush mechanics video on YouTube
This video follows the adventures of four Warlpiri men from Yuendumu as they go to town to buy a car. Along the way they perform amazing feats of 'Bush Mechanics' are helped out by the sudden appearance of Bush Mechanic MAGIC MAN played by Francis Juperrula Kelly. This is the original Bush Mechanics film that captured the hearts of millions of viewers throughout OZ and the world. A "bush mechanic", in Australian slang, is someone who uses unorthodox techniques and readily available materials to build or fix mechanical problems.
Watch the original Bush Mechanics film on YouTube
The series follows the exploits of Aboriginal characters as they travel through the desert, using indigenous humour and bush ingenuity to solve multiple car problems. Each episode presents a new adventure or challenge, often involving inventive repairs and the need to roll with whatever the outback throws at them. The first episode features a memorable chase scene and introduces viewers to iconic characters like Jack Jakamarra. The original Bush Mechanics documentary established the series and highlighted its cultural significance. David Batty and Francis Jupurrurla Kelly served as directors, shaping the unique style and storytelling of the show. The series also touches on themes of law, community justice, and the interactions between Aboriginal communities and white people.
The team at 4WD 24-7 shared these bewdies!
When something breaks in the middle of nowhere, you use what you’ve got! From a footy airbag and a strapped fuel tank to a campsite clutch swap and log suspension, these are our top five bush mechanic fixes.
Watch the 4WD 24-7 bush mechanic fixes on YouTube
Bush mechanic fixes shared by the RFTTE community
“Got flooded in one year at Nicholson Station and had a tinny but no outboard to get across the river to meet the mail plane with our supplies, so had to knock one up out of scrap steel, an old firefighter motor and a kubota belt, and some pulleys off the old power hacksaw. Got across the river, just, as it was flowing pretty fast, and walked the three kms to meet the plane then lug all the gear back and splutter back across the river. Still got the old contraption lying around… “ c/o Joe Grace via RFTTE.com
Joe Grace | Ingenious Australian
‘Carnage on the Track’ | Gibb River Road - hopefully it got them home! C/o @i4WDClub via Instagram… sound on for Slim Dusty Soundtrack!
“Grass-stuffed tyre to get home with a ripper of a flat after using all the spares on that particular trip” | Posted by Sasha Busch
Sascha Busch | Ingenious Australian
Rob Justin Giumelli Blakeney sent this one in which happened whilst I was writing the blog (Oct 2021)…
“This was yesterday to Travel 384kms back to Weipa from Elliot Falls on dirt and corrugations. Exhaust dump pipe snapped off at the turbo flange.”
Craig Taylor posted on RFTTE.com “Done a bush (suspension buffer) in the torsion bar at 2am in the middle of the paddock, polly pipe fixes everything!”
Craig Taylor | Ingenious Australian
“Bolt snapped on caravan shockers, lost bushes as well. Had driven around 80km before finding out. Stole bolt, washers and nut from jockey wheels, made bushes from hose and gaffa tape. Got us home another 500+ km” | Posted by Karryn Dolan via RFTTE.com
Karryn Dolan | Ingenious Australian
“Was on a bore run and the kingpin bearing collapsed and the studs all snapped and the bushes on the steering arm flogged out, the wire jobs didn’t help a great deal, but it got me out of trouble and home 3 1/2 hours later driving in 1st gear the whole way” Posted by Troy Campbell
Troy Campbell | Ingenious Australian
“Lost a dust cap and damaged a bearing on the camper van travelling along the Tanami, NT. Had a spare bearing but no dust cap. Baked beans tin, cable ties and silastic, lasted 2000km home” | posted by Dave Leslie.
David Leslie | Ingenious Australian
Although Jeff Becker came up with a great solution so you’ll never lose your dust cap…
Jeff Becker | Ingenious Australian
“Belts broke on the concrete mixer, upgraded it to a motorbike chain and sprocket” | c/o Richie Snell
Richie Snell | Ingenious Australian
My boss asked me to make a float cover that wouldn’t break or bend I think I went overboard on this one! By Camille Boon (and we love the tomato sauce bottle used as a valve protector!)
This excellent series, ‘BLACK AS’ came out after the BUSH MECHANICS episodes, but yet again it has plenty of clever ideas from some Ingenious Indigenous Australians!!
From the wreckers to laps down the main in no time!
“A mate had his gear shifter snap on his bike in the bush. We found the broken piece with enough metal on it to get a foot under, so we slipped the piece over the shifter and cable tied it backwards all the way back to the spline and rode the whole day like that!” posted Max Putland-Ferry.
Max Putland-Ferry | Ingenious Australian
“Tore the engine mount off the chassis and knocked the gear selector off the gearbox. I had 3 horses onboard as well. I had 87km to go after doing 3 days travelling from Victoria to Qld” posted Mark Barwick … the strap is wrapped around the door to hold it in place…
Mark Barwick | Ingenious Australian
Cable tie bush mechanics
Cable ties (or zip ties as we sometimes call it here in Australia) or ‘Ty-Rap’ being its brand name in the US, was invented by Maurus C. Logan in the mid 1950s. He worked for Thomas & Betts, an electrical company, and finished his career with the company as VP of Research and Development. Logan died on 12 November 2007, at the age of 86.
The idea of the cable tie came to Logan while touring a Boeing aircraft manufacturing facility in 1956. Aircraft wiring was a cumbersome and detailed undertaking, involving thousands of feet of wire organized on sheets of 50-foot-long plywood and held in place with knotted, wax-coated, braided nylon cord. Each knot had to be pulled tight by wrapping the cord around one’s finger, which sometimes cut the operator’s fingers until they developed thick calluses or “hamburger hands.” Logan was convinced there had to be an easier, more forgiving, way to accomplish this critical task.
For the next couple of years, Logan experimented with various tools and materials. On June 24, 1958, a patent for the Ty-Rap cable tie was submitted. Source: Wikipedia
CABLE TIE BUSH MECHANICS:
The first 2 images come from ‘Fastcar Eugene’ on Twitter: “This is how my multi-national corporate employer fixed a split guard on a Ford Ranger Ute!!”
“Took a U bolt out on the Nullarbor”, says Julia Lockwood, always carry zip ties, see 3rd pic.
Zip Ties, never go bush without them! John Connor posted the first pic below: “This got us 150km home after the u bolt broke…” (4th pic)
Bush plumbing, wiring and other clever fixes
Anyone seen this work, barbed wire jumper cables?
A 'bush plumbing' fix from Mark Schrag... "4” to 2” adaptor, care of a jam tin and an old tank fitting..."
Mark Schrag | Ingenious Australian
This is from Terry aka @theshadyfarmer on Instagram - Another Ingenious Australian near Broken Hill, NSW with his ‘bikeboat’ …
Some more bush plumbing and ingenuity…” Made this bush shower/dunny for the stock camp at Birrindudu Station about 15 years ago. The upright donkey was a grader rim, a truck rim, a Toyota rim, and a gas bottle all welded together with a bore casing flue up the guts and some fittings and a pressure relief valve welded on. Just ran a poly line from the turkey nest and a fire under the donkey, and all the girls in the camp were happy little Vegemites, even had a mirror. | Joe Grace via RFTTE.com
Bush Dunny | Birrindudu Station | Joe Grace
Not a bad bush mechanic fix from Russell Douglas Drinkwater to get him out of a pretty hairy situation: Broke 2 bolts holding the engine mount on our 1982 Suzuki stockman ute while fighting a fire. That caused the motor to drop, fan to rub the shroud etc etc. Had to get it home for repairs. A chainsaw, 15 minutes, plain wire, one limb and some Cobb n Co twitches got us there.
'Engine Mount' | Russell Douglas Drinkwater
Whatever gets you out of trouble! A guide to fuse replacements...
More bush mechanics stories
This is an ABC Conversations podcast with Lach McClymont. Lach learnt the ropes by working as a ringer everywhere from the Kimberley to Cape York, to Victoria, always looking to learn from older hands, and with his eyes on a very big prize.
We love how Lach goes up in a chopper so he can get reception on his phone, then he can look up YouTube videos on how to fix stuff in his camp!
Bush Mechanics in the city! Sent in by RFTTE member Rhonda Finley
A few more deserving a mention...
Bush mechanics beyond Australia
This bush mechanic fix happened in the USA… Tom Jj writes on the Bush Flyers Down Under FB Page:
“Super Cub in Alaska got attacked by a bear, no worries, just get a box or 2 of duct tape and a new wheel dropped off and all good to go. That will teach you not to leave your lunch in the plane in bear country!
BTW, it was originally called duct tape because of its water repellent properties. Invented in WWII, it was used to keep ammunition boxes water-tight, as well as being easy to remove in the field. After the war, it was sold in hardware stores and used to repair air ducts in homes. (Trevor Morgan).
He’s a Holden Man when it comes to bush mechanics…
Hardwood brake pad used from Innamincka SA to Wentworth NSW, September 2023 | From RFTTE member Paul McKinnon
The Bush Mechanics exhibition was held at the NMA, featuring original cars and artifacts from the series. Mandy Paul authored the book 'Bush Mechanics: From Yuendumu to the World' to accompany the exhibition, providing further insight into the culture and stories behind these ingenious repairs.
Where can you watch Bush Mechanics?
The Bush Mechanics page on ABC iview remains online, although the ABC currently lists the program as unavailable to stream. The original film can still be viewed in the YouTube embed above.
The National Museum of Australia also has information about the former Bush Mechanics exhibition, the television series and its importance in sharing Warlpiri life, culture and ingenuity.
A proper bush mechanic yarn
A good yarn goes a long way.
I can tell a yarn, might not be as good as most, but this one’s true.
My old Pop, Lenny Powyer, was once a roo shooter. He had plenty of tricks up his sleeve and was full of bush skills. One thing Lenny always told me was, “If you ever get a hole in your radiator, roo shit’s the best fix.” No lie, Min — he reckoned it worked every time.
I used to laugh and think, “Yeah right Pop, okay.”
My partner and I live on a property called Penaroo — rough, rocky country where the tracks hardly ever get graded, so you make your own way around. One week we had some mates come out to spend a few days with us, so we took them for a drive down the back of Penaroo. We had two cars, and I was driving my Triton — nice rig of course.
You know what it’s like driving around country like that — always checking the dash, making sure nothing’s going wrong. Well, sure enough, one of the cars started overheating. We pulled up and found a tiny hole in the radiator, about the size of a pencil.
We all stood there wondering what we were going to do. Then I thought of Pop.
“Roo shit will fix this,” I said.
My partner and his mates looked at me like I was mad. “Nah, go away, that won’t work.”
Anyway, we gathered up some roo shit and goat shit while the boys headed to the nearest trough for water. I remember saying, “Alright boys, let’s hope this works.”
And you know what? It got us all the way back to the house.
A few weeks later we had to drive to Brisbane and thought, “There’s no way this car’s making it.” But that old girl kept going and ended up doing another 10,000 kilometres or more before it was finally fixed properly.
So I can honestly say — thanks Pop. Turns out the old bush tricks still work.
By Mariah Powyer
Bush mechanics: common questions
What does bush mechanic mean in Australia?
It describes a practical person who can diagnose and temporarily repair mechanical problems using limited tools, spare parts and materials found nearby, particularly in rural or remote Australia.
What should you carry for remote vehicle breakdowns?
A suitable remote-area kit may include water, communications equipment, a first-aid kit, recovery gear, spare tyres, belts and hoses, basic tools, fuses, tape, cable ties and vehicle-specific spares. The right kit depends on the vehicle, route, conditions and distance from help.
Are bush mechanic repairs permanent?
Usually not. Most are temporary measures intended to reach a safe location. A qualified mechanic should inspect the vehicle or machinery before it returns to normal operation.
What was the Bush Mechanics television series?
Bush Mechanics was created by David Batty and Francis Jupurrurla Kelly. It follows Warlpiri men travelling through Central Australia and combines inventive vehicle repairs with humour, community and Warlpiri culture.
Got a bush mechanic yarn of your own? Add it to the RFTTE Facebook Group thread, tag #IngeniousAustralians, or email RFTTE.
