Outback Australian roadhouse - food and respite for weary travellers 🏜️🚛 | Landline | ABC Australia

The only respite to the endless highways of the Northern Territory are the roadhouses that dot the landscape every few hundred kilometres.
They're a welcome sight for weary eyes, or for drivers with a flashing fuel light. And they're a reminder that there is life out there after all - even if the personalities inside them are not exactly run-of-the-mill.
For the past 40 years, Greg Dick has been holding the fort at Aileron Roadhouse, 200 kilometres north of Alice Springs.
Asking around before we pull in, there are a few smirks - we get the feeling we don't quite know what we're in for.
There's no beating around the bush when it comes to "Dicky": he's as straight-talking as they come, and has a penchant for all things outlandish - like the giant Aboriginal warrior statue looming up on the hill that he commissioned to try to attract tourists.
He doesn't suffer fools, and love him or loathe him, he doesn't really care either way.
This is his kingdom, and it's his way or the literal highway.
"Laughter is the best medicine; some people haven't got it in them but that's alright, I've told plenty to get out of here," he said.
Join the ABC Australia community on social media!
abc.net.au/
Facebook: / abc
Twitter: / abcaustralia
Instagram: / abcaustralia

[@michaelmacdonell4834]

The way Dickie's face lights up whenever he smiles is magical

[@kenlyneham4105]

"I never miss a sunrise or a sunset". That's living life to the full.

[@albertafarmer8638]

Hi Ken, please give your life to JESUS CHRIST or you'll miss the very best!

[@CrazyWhiteVanDriver]

@@albertafarmer8638 Christ is Child Child is killed in etymology

[@terrythekittieful]

That could mean going to bed at 9 a.m. in the morning and waking up at 5 p.m in the afternoon.

[@korranis1]

Gordon Bricker mashalla

[@craignielson6605]

@@albertafarmer8638 why bring Jesus into this , other than to bible bash people

[@mariapierce2707]

As an American I have been fortunate to meet Australians who have become my dear friends. Down to earth people with a good laugh to boot. What more could anyone want? GOD Bless Australia!

[@Itsamemario1ns6666]

@@chris1960 there's crap people in the country and the city.

[@jonathandunleavy-colgan8876]

God bless you all 🙏🏻

[@brucelamberton8819]

Cheers mate!

[@michaelcerkez3895]

Coming from an old long haul trucker in the United States of America I can tell you we would live for great places to stop like that. And the owner adds more color to the place and makes the stay nicer and it harder to leave.

[@Rusty_Gold85]

you would love the taste of our T Bone Steak

[@josephineoliver9499]

I love my country, especially the people of the outback, they're real genuine 🌞🦘👣

[@brandonknight431]

I would love to visit australia. Hope ypu werent top affected by those awful fires 😭

[@patrickaussieMilartry]

Just Beautiful old school AUSSIES. I feel at home just hearing the love for their country in their voice. BEAUTY.

[@johnjohnson-yl4kd]

Gotta love these old timers, great generation

[@deltavee2]

Canadian here. I watched just this one then subscribed and thumbied and so on. I'd have loved to visit Aus but not this lifetime, being almost 75. Maybe next time round I'll just be born there, save me a trip from the other side of the Pacific.

[@23draft7]

Brought back some great memories. Blessed to have gone throughout the Outback. Great times. Great people. Thanks a lot. From Vancouver Island BC Canada.

[@waynemcmillan5970]

These people are what made the Australian outback so good to visit.

[@Abukartoona]

I was lucky to meet Dickie last week on my way from Alice up north, such a lovely guy 😊😊

[@leoelliott5205]

I'm from northern California and I just watched 3-4 of these land line videos for the first time. I must say that I really enjoyed them. Getting to OZ has always been on my bucket list. Who knows? Maybe one day I'll make it.

[@shanoinoz]

...bring all your money with you Leo.... your're going to need every cent you have mate....

[@saltydog888]

Do it mate. Your dollar goes further than ours. Getting here is the biggest problem at the moment.. might take a year or two.

[@moro6957]

Americans are always welcome mate!

[@tonymccarthy6713]

I hope so, I'm sure that you would enjoy it. I've travelled the world and there is nothing like that country that I have ever seen anywhere else.

[@dennispicone6801]

BIG TIP LEO. Please get yourself and whoever else out to Australia. You'll have a great time. Quite unique in many ways which a lot of countries are. However, you WILL enjoy it.😁🤣👍🍺

[@traceywilmot4374]

These people are a part of what make's the Australia outback so beautiful.

[@Beaut_Beau]

It's not the life i would want, but it makes me happy to see people so fulfilled with what they are doing with theirs.

[@spagoz2136]

My wife & I spent 7 years on the road pulling our caravan with our Toyota 4WD, around & around & up & down this great land and still didn't see everything. Just the right type of rehabilitation after having open heart surgery & having been spurred on by my doctor who said I should get out there and enjoy life. Pulled into so many of those roadhouses & still remember the friendly atmosphere. Nothing quite like touring the outback. I can no longer travel because of my health and really miss those times.

[@snuggles03]

What an asset to this country that lady and guy are. Salt of the earth. ❤️❤️👏👏

[@clairemajella8266]

How many sunrises and sunsets do we miss? An appreciation of beauty. A sense of purpose. Meaning. A reason to get up in the morning. A sense of humour. Resilience. And big beautiful statues.

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

I lived in Kununurra WA and I traveled the Stuart Highway and went to all these road houses, The people there are great and just so easy going. Seriously, every City person should do an Outback tour of Australia, they will learn what a beautiful country Australia is.

[@nuck-]

I used to manage the Capricorn roadhouse in Western Australia, damn great place with 50 years of rich history with drivers and travelers, it really was the place to stop and have a beer and feed and catch up with mates. Then corporate America bought it over, BP. Ruined the place within a month now it’s a ghost town full of foreigners who don’t give a damn about you or your day. Damn shame what capitalism can do in its current form, damn shame. RiP Cappy.

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

@@nuck- Went to the Capricorn roadhouse in 1991. And you are right. All the roadhouses taken over by Corporations are crap these days. Money over people. Cheers

[@johnw2026]

Shane Jackson I'm a country person from the U. S., And that idea sounds like a lot of fun!

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

It is, get out of the cities and see how the rural people do it. A lot tougher than the city people. And the Outback Of Australia is quite beautiful, even though it can be very harsh. Similar to USA in many ways. Cheers

[@ladydi4runner]

Shane Jackson Appreciate your input! Still have experience Australia on my Bucket List. Hoping I’ll get to it soon. 👍

[@BatMan-xr8gg]

I lived in Kununurra back in the early 90's and went to all these road houses in my travels around the Outback. Just so brilliant the people, and the country was just so harsh but beautiful at the same time. All Aussies should do it and experience what the Outback has to offer. I now live in Suburbia and I still miss the Outback

[@rahulm4490]

When I was a child in India, I read about the Australian outback in a National Geographic magazine in our school library. Since then, any time I see a video or an article about the Australian outback I somehow have to see/read it...and it still fills me with wonder and fascination....

[@andrewd7586]

The REAL Australia👍🏼 Honest & direct. I’m a Victorian, but my sister & family lived in Alice Springs for over 30 years. My nephew still lives there. I loved visiting & our late father’s second home was The Alice. I’d head north just for one of those feeds!🤤

[@muchopomposo.6394]

"Dickie" is a gem, as is the lady down the road. Top people... I'm moving there, NOW..! I've wanted to move to Auz, from the UK, since watching The Flying Doctor in the 1960's, and Chips Rafferty in The Overlanders (1946).

[@fijibatiislander7219]

That’s the secret “Never miss a sunrise or a sunset”

[@toddtomaszewski6820]

FIJI BATI ISLANDER a friend of mine told me that his Dad would always say, Don't waste the day. Equally good words to live by.

[@fijibatiislander7219]

Todd Tomaszewski too right mate .. life’s short 😊👍

[@joelan93mtfworkshop89]

what wonderful people! Australia is definitely a special place!

[@23draft7]

Love Australia. Great times, Great 👍 people. Enjoy going there.

[@bsfighter4721]

It never ceases to amaze me how different people's lives can be.

[@DaveTan65]

A lifetime of service is the secret to life. The sunrises and sunsets are gifts from the divine.

[@davidmunro6939]

I just love the Australian people that I have met. Smart hard working honorable people.Beautyful woman and men tougher then leather all with a heart of gold.

[@MsRain49]

Beautiful land, beautiful people. 💖

[@topendtrucker]

Gary at Dunmarra is an absolute legend of a bloke. Nothing he wont do for you. best roadhouse in Australia by far. Miss running up to Darwin each week but soon enough i'LL return, its a way of life

[@prasantbalan3816]

This is what it makes outback beautiful! Real Aussie mate!🍻

[@andrewpytko4773]

Love this man. He is so cool.

[@df289]

I miss Australia and her inhabitants and their ways. Good memories.

[@cashchen2682]

Amazing country with amazing people. So looking forward to visit

[@wickedwaiata2939]

Gregory looks really bloody good for his age!

[@prnothall9302]

I'm extremely fortunate to have driven from Canberra to Perth, and from Uluru to Darwin, and also Uluru to Adelaide. I love Australia, and especially the big sky landscapes. I've overnighted in many roadhouses there. Great country, fun people. ( I'm a born and bred Kiwi, and live in southern South island, NZ, btw )

[@OrnumCR]

Wow…Love that. When I was a kid, we regularly ran Hedland to Perth, and later travelled Australia over the top and down the centre. Now I live outside Melbourne and have travelled ‘home’ to Perth eight times over the Nullarbor. Very special to do that. Something everybody should do is experience Australia by road outside of the cities. Fantastic. Can relate having grown up in these more remote regions of this great country..

[@leoniemusgrave9322]

Proud of us Aussies.

[@friendlyzombie1460]

Cold beer is all I think about when I see this landscape.

[@jimbojet8728]

Lucky people. Thank you for sharing your beautiful homeland.

[@waynesilva3129]

That push bike is 33 yrs. Old. Bought in 1988. The bike never let me down. As of june 2021 I still ride that bike everyday. The outback is a beautiful place.

[@rosshilton]

Came here in 85. Worked across Australia in the mining and minerals area. Mount Isa, Kalgoorlie, Weipa, Port Hedland, Olympic Dam, Argyle. Fantastic times. Real people, real sunrises, real life. It really is like that.

[@muttlee9195]

Love them indegenious people they are the spirit of the land ♥️

[@kcharles8857]

What magnificent people.

[@driver3025]

What a character.... it’s what makes this country great.

[@Bimshelfahdwelf7973]

Who else wants landline to start their own KZbin channel so that we can just watch landline and not have to scroll forever on the ABC Channel

[@waynesilva3129]

I stopped there on my push bike coming from the top end heading to Sydney via the great ocean road. Sometimes I get tears in my eyes when I look at my push bike in my lounge room. At the end about all we have left are memories.

[@kellymillward6375]

I like that your push bike is in your living room

[@MelDundee2]

I biked that road in 76 from Darwin to Cloncurry with a Kiwi friend Dave, we hit every roadhouse over ten days with a stop in Katherine Gorge and Hot Springs out of Adelaide River. Dave did his achilles heel in in Isa, we parted and planned to meet in Townsville but he caught up with me again almost to Cloncurry so we took the train from there. But I had been on that road before and Dunmarra and some other roadhouses were not nice places for Native people and young city women tricked into working those roadhouses.

[@keiran_wilkinson]

hope his still there in a few years. seems like he would have plenty of good stories! can't wait to hit the road full time in this awesome country of ours 🇦🇺

[@tkx86]

I live in Sydney and I could not be any unhappier. Alot of people here would not know about being a proper Aussie.

[@ridethatslapthat]

It's cause everything around Sydney is superficial, the further out you go from a city the better I reckon, my ex lived in Bathurst and I always reminisce it purely for the fact that people around there are so much nicer and the country is more relaxing than the shit show Sydney.

[@craigweston5887]

I was born in the Alice and boy do I miss that beautiful country.

[@0Zolrender0]

I am born and bred in the Alice too. I am still here as well.

[@shawnhill7504]

This is exactly why I Love Australian so much . ❤

[@jdh992]

That's true Australia to me. Best times of my life were working hard and visiting the local roadhouse for some beers.

[@gaius_enceladus]

Hard land and hard (but good) people! Respect from New Zealand!

[@martinjenkins5471]

Good old outback Aussies the best. Tough country tough people, not for soy boy's from the cappuccino strip.

[@johneller5856]

NZ are family!

[@jayebuss5562]

Kiwis are tough buggers also, family across the ditch.

[@gaius_enceladus]

@@jayebuss5562 - Cheers Jaye! I've always loved Aussies and always will! We give each other a hard time now and again but that's what you do with your mates!

[@jayebuss5562]

@@gaius_enceladus friendly rivalry mate, but when the shit hits the fan then we both have each others backs

[@Elitist20]

4:57 - Birds in background: 'Oi, fellas, some nice roadkill 'ere!'

[@forddriver8827]

King & Queens of the Outback. Bless them all.

[@olspanner]

And that's just the way it is! Genuine,caring, decent people!

[@chrisdvan-hilton6034]

Wonderful Down to Earth People who represent an age that may one day disappear for ever. I for one truly hope that True Australians never let that happen. From Chris in Derbyshire, England

[@keithbagshaw3146]

They may disappear, but memories don't! I love Aus. came here in 1968 and have am immersed in the history...

[@donhargrave5376]

As NZers , we have done several Outback trips including a 2 year wander all the way round, " the big lap". All have been different and the roadhouses and campgrounds are unique and overflowing with interesting characters. Small towns are great, big ones - no. Love the outback.

[@j.d.peppmeier9041]

Love the Aussies !! Back in the 90s I was with a security crew on assignment in the Kalgoorlie area, and my sidekick and I stopped at a roadhouse in the outback. Had a good steak !

[@mangoMango-ck3et]

Can't beat that Aussie humour,,pass it down please,,, generation,to generation.......

[@subaschalise3405]

I went through this road last week. I loved everything there.

[@F.Krueger-cs4vk]

Loved watching this awesome video. What a real Aussie ledgend. Way it used to be when i was a kid in the 60's. Miss those times. Feel like I've known old fella for years. Cheers to old timer, hope you go past 100 mark mate. 👍🏻👌🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.

[@dannyboy2180]

What a great story. Beautiful

[@robertspies4695]

I am a Californian, but lived in Australia 1970-1973. I once drove from Melbourne through the outback of NSW to Queensland. I will never forget that trip. The huge distances, very few small outposts to refuel and the country pubs.

[@Conn30Mtenor]

I've stayed there a number of times. Great place, great people.

[@driver3025]

Big shout out to Old Lorrie at the innamincka roadhouse. He looks after us drivers that go bush. Cheers bud.

[@bevcd3625]

Enjoying the simple things in life. 👍✌️

[@southaussie5108]

Love this place I was only there last Sept2019.

[@big-gt1dt]

Good to see a very different statue.. magnificent art work..👍🤟👏👌🏆👊🤛

[@Frenchwine15]

Just Beautiful . Great country amazing people what more do you want out of life.

[@Suroyfamilia]

Bloody great story, special people out there!

[@djayapandian]

I love you "Dicky" for your passion of your outback life and your humor 1945 - 2045. Please change the label to 1945 - 2065.

[@davidsewellclarke4997]

Good on you cobber. Hope that there are more like you in the Outback .

[@charliedekadens3348]

I never miss a sunrise, best therapy you'll ever get, just you and dawn...and a few bird calls to stop you dreaming.

[@gm16v149]

Aileron is a great spot to stop. It’s well off the road and you can have a decent sleep. Get up in the morning and walk up the hill to the sculpture and take in the view, then go down and have breakfast. Perfect! It’s true about Dunmarra as well, it’s a popular stop for truck drivers. I’m sure I know that bloke Prickles who was at Dunmarra. If it’s him he worked at the Warrego Mine near Tennant Creek back in the late ‘70s. It would be interesting to find out.

[@kevinbalkwill8426]

Australia would not work without people like them total diamonds in the rough people like them will always have your back

[@michaelandrew4812]

I love that old bastard Dickie, what a wonderful character.

[@oldtimers6460]

Getting to few and city people don't know enough about the struggles of the bush . These are the modern pioneers and their words should hold true for most of the bush .

[@stevecobb6001]

WOW... just WOW ........ respect !

[@denny75t]

I love this places... every time I am in this lands I am bewitched..

[@Puffballs-en2sk]

"that my coffin over there" that man has his coffin sitting there in his shop, I hope he doent need it till 2045

[@3peckeredgoat735]

What a cool guy, I'd love to sit with a beer and listen to some of his stories.

[@brendanmccreanor1191]

June 1988 Norforce meetup Point, for K Troop Tennant Creek. Weekend patrol and OP. And. Sunday Range shoot at Alice Springs rang.

[@johnmcdyer7297]

Loved this

[@mikebourke1185]

What FANTASTIC PEOPLE 👏

[@moisty254]

Greg is a deadset legend 👍

[@combitech8169]

Great story , there is good people still out there folks doing their best for everyone , and a pub in the middle of nowhere is a welcome relief to a tired traveller up that direction 😅 , good on yah guys 😊

[@mrc6301]

not long enough, iv visited a number of roadhouses when driving through auss. had a great time,

[@Wofinet]

I must be an unusual city slicker. Been there a few times. Had a few laughs in top springs.

[@bullzye101]

JUST AWESOME GOOD AUSTRALIA OUTBACK LUV IT ... BIG THUMBS UP

[@LazloVimes]

I would move there in a heartbeat!

[@seltonk5136]

I only speak one language, English, but I want to go to Australia . I can't find any Australian talk language courses. Rosetta's Stone or the like

[@garethmusk9331]

Love it!

[@brodygardner1655]

What a awesome watch

[@lenmatthies9626]

What a life. I yearn for such freedom.

[@earthsouljah4116]

Keep your country Green.. Keep your country clean.. Grow more tree.. Happy country.. Happy people.

[@archibaldchimpin]

Looks amazing

[@joebloggs619]

These sorts of people and life are not just found up north or other desert outback places. You also see them in rural Victoria and NSW where these old run down Roadhouses, general stores etc often double up performing a variety of unexpected functions. They play a very important role for the locals as well as all the long distance haulage trucks passing through. In one such place I lived in as a teen, we knew when certain big trucks would passing through the locality, with very tired, hungry, cold, thirsty drivers, often around 3am. So we made sure there were lights on to greet them (little Christmas lights, would you believe???). And there would be bacon and eggs, chops, steaks, sausages etc and a huge old dirty big black pot of hot tea ready for them and we just waited for the trucks to arrive. We were keen to see them because the brought news from further up the line we needed to know, being so isolated... But,although there are a few such places still left, they are dying out. Partly due to local councils passing laws etc they cannot afford to comply with, as they make very little money, as much tourists want to visit such run down old places surrounded by old junk machinenery,old BOMB cars, rusted out old trucks etc, with torn curtains and fly blown walls, fly strip full of dead flies hanging at the entrance etc. They are probably not the safest or most hygienic of places and it's probably necessary to make these places at least cleaner and safer. However, without forcing them to be removed because they look so old and run down and uniquely Australian. They serve an important factor action for a forgotten section of the community and are hurting nobody, apart from annoying the prejudiced new age types. I know of two such places in my general locality. One also offers "quality modern accommodation with all mod cons". Some musician friends want to stay there and entertain the rough outdoorsy type workers who stayed there or are there and invited me. But, after going past such places and having been forced in youth to live in them on occasion,I had to say a polite no, thanks... I'll pass. I know what they are like inside.... But it doesn't bother the patrons or those who work in such places. You need to be pretty adaptaptable, make do with whatever conditions you find there and be grateful, not whinge about everything not being to your liking and, above all, have a sense of humour and don't judge others trying to do the best they can in difficult circumstances and conditions. In such places you can find some interesting "exhibitions" eg of art work, inventions, ingenuity etc and hear more incredible (and sometimes also highly improbable) stories, hear obscure musical performers, poets and such creative types all the locals believe ought to be famous. In a sense, they are, even if nobody else has ever heard of them. The locals love them. They don't get paid but consider being among good people who buy them a drink or a meal etc is pretty good "free entertainment", for performers and patrons alike. No need to buy fancy latest style ultra cool fashions and pay a fortune to go to some Melbourne night club for entertainment and risk being arrested, raped bashed,murdered on the he mean city streets. They are not the most glamorous of ritzy glitzy social scenes to be seen in but these old run down joints out middle of nowhere play a very important social connection role for rural communities. It's not always possible for all to have friends in high places eg Melbourne or Sydney. But,sometimes, friends in low places can be more important to have. Especially if you run out of good, water etc out middle of nowhere and need help from one of these Roadhouses. They seem to cater for all emergencies and to anything. Rough country outdoors working men knew how to deliver a baby on the side of a road with just work tools as "surgical instruments" long before it became trendy for this era's males to be involved in the child birthing process and these men were not scared to do it, though sometimes they might argue about best way to go about the birthing, depending on whether the baby had decided to come head first or feet first,which might be a bit more dignified, but such births were often a bit riskier and needed an older more experienced man to take charge, like the road workers gang leader boss man who gave instructions to the mother in labour and to his men helping her birth. OK, luv,you keep pushing hard. You boys,on the count of three, all pull... Mind the head, though... It's my best mate's baby... He'll get here as fast as he can... On horseback... Despite these men not being related to the pregnant mother and doing such an intimate thing to help her, when her husband or father or brothers etc couldn't be there, because they often had to be away working hundreds of miles away, for weeks on end, these women depending on men for help with birthing were never sexually abused by them. They had to depend on men to help them because men outnumbered women in remote rural Australian places and there was no communications or easy access to medical help. Just the bush nurse who can versed hundreds of miles daily to visit new mothers and show them what to do. She did a good job but could only usually help after the birth, not during pregnancy or at the birth. Nobody bothered with monthly pregnancy check ups or even getting a pregnancy confirmation. The women figured you'd soon know it if you were. Morning sickness, rapidly increasing baby bulge etc. So who needs a doctor to tell them what they could tell for themselves, or ask an older mother who knew?

[@Itsamemario1ns6666]

You wrote a novel.

[@bettydamnboop3030]

Great video, thank you 😊

[@ianmacdougall1320]

It's beautiful with 20% of the Australian population spread across remote and regional Australia coastal towns, semi rural, outback towns, remote communities, small bush towns, desserts, wild scrub big rolling plains, cattle stations the size of European nations. It is a smorgosboard of nationalities, rugged individuals with the world's oldest First Nations People over 1=2 million who speak over 340 different languages an incredibly robust nation within a nation. Australia is so vast it enjoys 3 different temperate zones, vast and wild all the way to the tropical Zones of the Top End. The world's largest reef marine Park and a truly remarkable country, enjoy it's awesome.

[@kaynefryday6637]

God Bless em , they are the salt of the earth and what Australia is all about.

[@mick00000000002]

god bless miss it. true out back country. 2023. )