The 1946 film "The Overlanders" is set in 1942 Australia and shows two Australian large pennies used in a gambling game called "Two-up." A group of Australian cattle ranchers drive a herd of cattle across northern Australia to keep Japanese invaders from taking them. The film stars Chips Rafferty as Dan McAlpine, John Nugent Hayward as Bill Parsons, and Daphne Campbell as Mary Parsons. Two Australian pennies appear during a gambling scene where men are playing the Australian "Two-up" game.

A poster warns of a possible Japanese invasion of Australia in 1942.

The Japanese Army is moving towards Australia, and some cattle ranchers decide to drive their cattle over 1500 miles across the country to keep the Japanese from taking them. Two such ranchers are Dan McAlpine and Bill Parsons. Most of the experienced "drovers" (cowboys) plan to join the army, so the ranchers has to hire people the army doesn't want including native Aborigines and women. The drive is being organized and the local men are waiting to join the army. They play a popular Australian coin game called "Two-up."

Corky, a local individual, handles the money.

Everyone is watching the skies.

A round object is seen.

The obverse of the coins has King George VI on them.

An Australian penny:

Bronze, 30.8 mm, 9.45 gm
Obverse: King George VI facing left, GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP.
George VI by the Grace of God, King of all the British territories, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India Reverse: Kangaroo facing left, AUSTRALIA 1942 PENNY

McAlpine and Parsons sign contracts with a meat company to deliver the herd. They will start at Wyndham in northwest Australia and head 1500 miles to Rockingham on the east coast. They will get two shillings for each 100 miles each cow moves.

A ship leaves with the soldiers.

The cattle drive then starts with McAlpine as the leader, Bill Parsons, Mrs. Parsons driving a wagon, Mary and Helen Parsons, Corky, a local man, Sinbad, a British sailor, and Jackie, a native.

Mr. and Mrs. Parsons bring their two daughters, Helen, age about 12 and Mary, age about 21. McAlpine does not want to hire Mary as a drover but decides to take a chance on her. The drovers pass a rocky area.

Native Aborigines are watching quietly. The drovers first big obstacle is a river.

The drovers get their wagon and the cattle cross the river.

McAlpine has to shoot a crocodile who gets too close. The group arrives at the town of Anthony's Lagoon which has a hotel.

They spend a night at the hotel.

A lonely windmill shows the barren nature of the area. Something is seen in the sky.

An airplane flies low over the herds.

The airplane is a Douglas DC-3, a common two-engine propeller aircraft of the period.

The airplane stops so that an official can check some of the cattle. They pass inspection.

The drovers face water shortages and cattle stampedes along the way. The ranchers decide to change the destination to Brisbane.

McAlpine has changed his opinion about women:

The men have to get off their horses to stop a cattle stampede.

The group and cattle finally arrive at Brisbane.

Their drive along with others is a news story and newsreel cameras turn up.

After a stay in Brisbane some members fly home and others stay.

Weary veterans of the drive rest.

Chips Rafferty as Dan McAlpine
John Nugent Hayward as Bill Parsons
Jean Blue as Mrs. Parsons
Daphne Campbell as Mary Parsons
Helen Grieve as Helen Parsons
John Fernside as Corky
Peter Pagan as Sinbad
Clyde Combo as Jackie
Director: Harry Watt
Writers: Harry Watt