The Bedourie oven is an Australian adaptation of the camp oven (

Dutch oven A Dutch oven (not to be confused with masonry oven) is a thick-walled cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid. Dutch ovens are usually made of seasoned cast iron; however, some Dutch ovens are instead made of cast aluminium, or ceramic. Some metal ...

). Drovers working on Bedourie Station, in western

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, found that the heavy

cast iron Cast iron is a class of iron–carbon alloys with a carbon content more than 2%. Its usefulness derives from its relatively low melting temperature. The alloy constituents affect its color when fractured: white cast iron has carbide impuriti ...

camp ovens they used for cooking would often break as a result of falling from their pack horses. The Bedourie oven was developed in response to this problem. Formed from

mild steel Carbon steel is a steel with carbon content from about 0.05 up to 2.1 percent by weight. The definition of carbon steel from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) states: * no minimum content is specified or required for chromium, cobalt ...

, it is lighter and less brittle than cast iron, and will not break if dropped.

References

* Wannan, Bill. ''A Dictionary of Australian Folklore: Lore, Legends, Myths, and Traditions'' (1987). Viking O'Neil. Page 46. * Stone, Lionel
"Australia's Food Culture Originated in England."
''Food in Motion. The Migration of Food Stuffs and Cooking Techniques'' (1983). Oxford Symposium. Page 110. Cookware and bakeware Australian cuisine Australian inventions Camping equipment Cooking vessels {{Australia-stub