It is an epic tale, a source of pride for its people, yet a story little known by Australia at large. On a single day in 1968, in the scorching Pilbara heat, 137 men – mostly from the Torres Strait – smashed a world record when they laid, spiked and anchored seven kilometres of railway track in 11 hours and 40 minutes.
Now recreated on stage at Brisbane festival, this feat, part of a nine-month project to build 400km of rail line from Mount Newman to Port Hedland, has received its overdue celebration in the joyous musical Straight from the Strait, presented by Opera Queensland, the Yumpla Nerkep Foundation and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
