Chamberlain's famous Torana acquired by ANM
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Lindy Chamberlain holding Azaria, with Aidan and Reagan, standing
on Stuart
Highway with the sign to 'Ayers Rock' alongside their Torana on 16th August, 1980.
Photo: Dr Michael Chamberlain.
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19th August, 2014
The National Museum of Australia, Canberra, has acquired the yellow 1977
Holden Torana SL V8 hatchback which was central to the conviction and ultimate exoneration of Lindy and Michael
Chamberlain, over the 1980 disappearance of their daughter, Azaria.
The disappearance of Azaria Chantel Loren Chamberlain (11th June - 17th August 1980) became one of the most infamous
events in contemporary Australian social and legal history. Despite the family’s protestations that Azaria was taken by a
dingo at Ayers Rock (now Uluru), Lindy Chamberlain was tried, in October 1982 and convicted of murder and Michael
Chamberlain was convicted of being an accessory to the crime.
Lindy was given a life sentence and imprisoned for over three years, before new evidence forced a royal commission
that ultimately resulted in the 1988 exoneration of Lindy and Michael Chamberlain by the Northern Territory Criminal
Court of Appeal.
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The 1977 Torana played a key role in the convictions with forensic evidence which alleged Azaria’s blood was in the
car. The royal commission subsequently found this substance was bitumen, sound deadener, milkshake, and copper dust.
Michael Chamberlain said that the car represents the one of the worst perversions of forensic science in Australia’s
history: "While the car represents this gross injustice, it also symbolises freedom, as a result of the proper and
independent revision of forensic science, which eventually saw Lindy exonerated," said Dr Chamberlain.
"Because I love this car, it is with some sorrow that I am releasing it to the National Museum but I also take
comfort from the decision, because I know the Museum will take better care of the vehicle than I can. It will survive not
just as an example of a total forensics failure, but ultimately as a symbol of the triumph of Australian justice,"
said Dr Chamberlain.
National Museum senior curator Sophie Jensen said that, "the Torana is an important addition to the Museum’s
National Historical Collection which will help future generations understand this important and tragic episode in
Australian legal history".
The dismantled car was held by Northern Territory authorities until 1990 when it was returned to Michael Chamberlain,
who restored it.
The National Museum acquisition also includes Dr Chamberlain’s Bible, his running shoes worn at Ayer’s Rock, clothing
and photographs.
E&OE.
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