Betsy is a London Taxi who will be soon coming to live at the TD Automotive Services workshops. Betsy will also be participating in the Macedon Ranges Grand Tour, which should be a breeze compared to the epic journey she is renown for.
When I lived in London, I couldn’t get a London Taxi to take me anywhere south of the Thames River, so when I learned of a bunch of blokes who drove a London Taxi from London to the Great Southern Land, I was very impressed! The adventurers had film maker and Woodend local, Michael Dillon come along to document the journey. The film will be screening in Woodend in September to coincide with Betsy coming home to the Macedon Ranges after spending some time in a South Australian car museum.
“Meet Betsy, a purpose modified 1988 Fairway 4 door black London cab built by Carbodies, a division of Manganese Bronze Ltd and fitted with a Rover diesel engine and Jaguar gearbox.
As an official part of Australia’s 1988 Bicentennial Year Celebrations, Betsy was driven from London to Sydney by Welshman John Morgan, Irishman Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly, London cabbie Guy Smith and Sydney taxi driver Kanelli Tseros, accompanied by Charles Norwood (mechanical support) and Michael Dillon (film maker and current owner).
Farewelled from Buckingham Palace by Dame Edna Everage and with the meter running the whole way, Betsy arrived at the Sydney Opera House 9 weeks and 22,000 kms later, raising over $300,000 for children’s charities along the way. With the meter reading £31,446.60, she was just 10 minutes behind schedule and slipped straight into the Guinness Book of Records. A huge logistical undertaking with lots of laughs along the way, Betsy’s journey had been the longest, most, expensive taxi ride ever. It truly was A Fare to Remember!”
What: Screening of the documentary film – ‘A Fare to Remember’ and meet film maker and current owner of Betsy, Michael Dillon.
When: 2.00PM Sunday 27th September 2026
Where: Norma Richardson Hall, 15 Buckland Street Woodend.
How much: Adults $20 – includes a glass of wine!
To book tickets – click on button below