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35th Anniversary of the Commencement of the French LinePrint Page 
13-October-2018
Photographs supplied by Diane Watson
A cairn commemorates the 35th anniversary of the French Line in Simpson Desert in 1964 -1964. The plaque also commemorates the 35th anniversary of the Landrover Owners Club of Victoria which is listed as a separate entry.
In 1962 French Petroleum committed to spend £4m (worth about $AUD40m today) over five years of oil exploration in the Great Artesian Basin to earn a 50% stake in the Simpson Desert leases held by Delhi/SANTOS. French Petroleum chose as prime contractor its compatriate company, Brisbane-based Compagnie Generale de Geophysique (CGG).
A thorough geophysical survey of the southern Simpson was ordered. Preparatory work began in the Pedirka district along the Hamilton River before the attention of the French oilmen turned to the main game - South Australia's formidable Simpson Desert. First a road had to be built to facilitate the movement of the oil search crew as they advanced across the dunes.
CGG named their traverse following convention, as Line B. Today their handiwork is known universally as the French Line.
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In 1962 French Petroleum committed to spend £4m (worth about $AUD40m today) over five years of oil exploration in the Great Artesian Basin to earn a 50% stake in the Simpson Desert leases held by Delhi/SANTOS. French Petroleum chose as prime contractor its compatriate company, Brisbane-based Compagnie Generale de Geophysique (CGG).
A thorough geophysical survey of the southern Simpson was ordered. Preparatory work began in the Pedirka district along the Hamilton River before the attention of the French oilmen turned to the main game - South Australia's formidable Simpson Desert. First a road had to be built to facilitate the movement of the oil search crew as they advanced across the dunes.
CGG named their traverse following convention, as Line B. Today their handiwork is known universally as the French Line.
Location
| Address: | Adelaide & Burt Streets, Opposite Birdsville Hotel , Birdsville , 4482 |
|---|---|
| State: | QLD |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -25.899221 Long: 139.351296 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Technology |
| Sub-Theme: | Industry |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 1963 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 1998 |
Dedication
| Approx. Monument Dedication Date: | July-1998 |
|---|
Front Inscription
Source: MACompagnie General de Geophysique
SEISMIC SURVEY PARTY S.6507
SIMPSON DESERT AUSTRALIA 1963 - 64
THE FRENCH LINE CONSTRUCTION TEAM
Erected by the Land Rovers Owners Club of Victoria on
the occasion of the 35th anniversaries of the commencement
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au
