Who was this golden-haired creature who started running with the kangaroos in the last century? Many spotted her and she caused a world-wide sensation back in the day. But was she real? Join me as CryptoVille investigates the mystery of the Nullarbor Nymph!
The story of the Nullarbor Nymph began back in 1971, long before there was an internet like we know it today, and back in days when news from the wilds of the Australian outback still amazed and interested readers. People were also more trusting of the news media then.
The nymph was described by those who saw her as a semi-naked white woman, with flowing blond hair. She was first seen by a group of professional kangaroo shooters on December 26, 1971. They said she seemed to be wearing animal skins and was clinging to the tail of a live kangaroo.
They somehow dubbed her the Nullarbor Nymph and her fame and notoriety spread like one of those devastating wildfires that plague the country. Although this time, it spread world-wide.
Just where is Nullabor? It’s a large plain populated by vast amounts of kangaroos – at least it was in 1971. It’s located in Western Australian near a town called Eucla which is right on the border with New South Australia (see map).
The kangaroo shooters got a photo of her (above, left) and you can see she is wearing animal skins on her backside, and possibly the top portion of a swimming suit. Sure enough, she’s holding onto a kangaroo’s tail and he doesn’t look very happy about it.
More witnesses spotted her soon after that on another day at 1:45 AM. Seems a busload of tourists were passing by just as the nymph broke into one of her runs. The tourists described her as being clad only in kangaroo skins. Passengers felt so sorry for the woman, they had the bus driver stop so they could put out some food for her on the side of the road – sandwiches, milk, and sweets. It’s incredible how kind people can be at times, isn’t it?
Everyone hearing the tale assumed she was living off the land in a feral manner.
The Veil Slips
Anyway, a few months went by with a few more sightings, until May 1972 when the man who thought up this scheme confessed. His name was Geoff Pearce and he was in town on business but didn’t have enough money to pay his motel bill. So, thinking quickly, he said he’d think of a way to put Eucla on the map to attract all sorts of business for the town.
Mind you, at this time, the outpost claimed to have eight residents, four “crossbred” dogs, and a swearing parrot, (presumably left behind by visiting pirates!) LOL!! No, no! Let’s not go there! I’m kidding!
Mr. Pearce convinced a couple of the local kangaroo shooters to join in the hoax; one was named Mr. Laurie Scott. Scott then convinced his girlfriend, Geneice Brooker to help them pull it off. They claim the first stunt was her running in front of the bus of tourists, and that makes more sense because she was first covered in kangaroo skins. Later she ran in front of the kangaroo shooters who caught the photo of her above, wearing what looks like a swimming suit top. Had to be much easier to get on.
The author of the Australian Geographic article, Tim the Yowie Man, was able to interview Geneice who is now 75 years old and living in Adelaide. He wrote, “… she recalled the “fun times” of the hoax vividly. “I had to coat myself in talcum powder before slipping into the kangaroo skins because they were still fresh and wet.” In my mind, this is why she quickly switched to using what looks like a swimming suit top on subsequent runs. Eeew!!
Still Sensational
Mr. Pearce paid back his debt to the motel owner and outpost many times over. Journalists and visitors from around the world flew in to see if they could get a glimpse of the mystery woman. Business was booming.
The world was captivated with her story and more and more legends grew around her. People wanted to know who she was and what caused her to live a feral lifestyle.
People put up statues in her honor, and you have to know they made a movie about her in 1994. Yes. Unbelievable. If you want to see it, I believe it’s on Amazon Prime and a few other places. It’s called the Nullarbor Nymph.
Other women were enlisted to participate in the hoax so they could be photographed standing among the kangaroos as though they were living the feral lifestyle.
But Geneice was the original and what’s fun is that she is still having the last laugh over the whole silly hoax.
According to the article from the Nullarbor Roadhouse, people are still visiting the area and telling her tales today.
So, what do you think about putting fresh, wet animal skins on in the Australian summer temperatures, just to perpetrate a hoax? Would you do it?
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References
https://www.nullarborroadhouse.com.au/the-nullarbor-nymph/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nullarbor_Nymph