General News
17 April, 2026
Mal’s last trip
AUSTRALIAN television pioneer Mal Leyland is preparing for “one last trip” as he and his family work to establish a museum and gallery in Cairns.
Mr Leyland, best known from the Leyland Brothers travel programs with late sibling Mike, is set to revisit his historic 1966 “wheels across the wilderness” journey, retracing parts of the route through Central Australia.
“The main thing that makes it special for me is the fact that I’m doing it again and I’m still going,” he said.
Now based at Gordonvale with daughter Carmen Leyland and son-in-law Jon Evans, the family is also planning a permanent attraction celebrating the Leyland legacy.
Ms Leyland said the move north was driven by a long-standing connection to the region.
“I spent a fair amount of time up in this region, back in my early 20s … and fell in love with the region,” she said.
“We moved up here just over a year ago … absolutely love it.”
The proposed museum and gallery would showcase the history of the Leyland Brothers, alongside photography, film footage and memorabilia collected over decades of travel.
Plans include a café in honour of Mr Leyland’s late wife, Laura, as well as a photography gallery featuring rarely-seen images.
“Dad’s (Mal Leyland) actually a stills photographer … and no one has pretty much seen his work, so he’s always wanted to have a photo gallery,” Ms Leyland said.
Artefacts under consideration include original cameras, archival footage and even items from past expeditions, including a recovered axle from the legendary 1966 trip.
Mr Evans said the family was also developing a Cairns-based travel business, offering guided tours into Outback Queensland.
The venture aims to build on the spirit of the original television series while encouraging Australians to explore their own country.
“Don’t waste your time thinking about it. Get out and see it,” Mr Leyland said.
The upcoming journey will also raise awareness of dementia, following Mr Leyland’s diagnosis, with the family working alongside organisations including Dementia Australia and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Planning for the Cairns museum is ongoing, with the family exploring potential sites, including one on Mulgrave Road in Westcourt, and funding options as they prepare to depart on the expedition in the coming days.
