20 to 1: Great Aussie Ideas, Icons and Inventions

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"20 to 1: Great Aussie Ideas, Icons and Inventions" was the fifth episode of the television special 20 to 1, one of the television specials to mark 50 years of television in Australia.

This episode counted down from 20 to 1 the "greatest Australian ideas, icons and inventions".

Thong
Barbecue
Vegemite
Hills Hoist
Black box flight data recorder
Dame Edna Everage
Holden and the Ute
Felix the Cat
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
World Series Cricket
Australian Medical Discoveries
Surf Lifesaving Clubs and Surf Lifesaving Reel
Australian rules football
The Story of the Kelly Gang
- In 1906, Australia made the first narrative feature length film, about the tales of Ned Kelly
- The film was billed as "the longest film ever made"
- The film premiered on Boxing Day, 1906 at the Athaneum Hall in Melbourne
Dual flush toilet system
- Invented by Mr. Thompson in 1980 who worked for Caroma at the time
- The dual flush toilet is now shipped to more than 30 countries worldwide
Ugg Boot
- In the early 1960's, Australian sheepskin boots or ugg boots were first introduced to the United States.
Australia II's winged keel
- The winged keel was the secret weapon that lead to Australia II to victory in the 1983 America's Cup, breaking the longest winning streak in the history of sport
Australia's Big Things
- It all starting in 1964 with the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales and the Sunshine Coast's Big Pineapple in 1971
- Prince Charles and Princess Diana visited the Big Pineapple in 1983
Victa lawn mower
- Suburban Sydneysider Mervyn Victor Richardson built the world's first 2-stroke lawn mower in 1952 for his son who had a part-time lawn mowing business
- In 1957, the 100 000th Victa rolled off the production line
Speedo
- The Speedo costume was introduced on Bondi Beach in 1928
- In 1955, Speedo introduced Nylon into its competitive swimwear