Early Australian Explorers - Any Good Videos or DVDs

Submitted: Monday, Aug 09, 2004 at 17:05

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Rosscoe

I suppose I should have kept my late 1950's 5th class Social Studies books from Petersham Public School. All those dotted lines over a map of Australia drawn using a green plastic template. Those were the days! Mrs Penny loved to teach that stuff.
Now as I grow a little older and there's a little red dust coursing through my veins I am finding I am becoming more and more interested with our early inland explorers.
I recently caught the tail end on Austar of Peach's Australian Explorers. All I got was the spearing of Kennedy and Jackie Jackie staying by his side.
I'd love to get hold of the series but initial attempts see the ABC wanting mega dollars per episode.
Anybody know where I can get hold of similar videos or DVDs covering the early exploration of OZ.
Failing Videos, can anybody suggest "easy reading " history books on the subject.

Regards,

Rosscoe

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Reply By: Member - Rick (S.A.) - Monday, Aug 09, 2004 at 17:56

Monday, Aug 09, 2004 at 17:56

This is my hobby, so hopefully I can assist you. Not much good asking me about DVD's etc. Only got text ideas for you, so here goes:

1. "The Explorers" by Dr Tim Flannery - wide scope, easy reading with a nice interpretations by well known sceintist

2. "Explorers of Autstralia", by Ernest Favenc - a contempory text, old but good.

3. "Bush Tucker Man - Tarnished Heroes" by Les Hiddins - selected people, not all of whom are explorers. But a good read anyhow.

If you would like some suggestions on books covering individual explorers, ask away...............

Cheers

AnswerID: 71909

Follow Up By: Lynn2 - Monday, Aug 09, 2004 at 18:35

Monday, Aug 09, 2004 at 18:35

Dear Rick,

I am replying on behalf of my better (worse???) half. Thanks for the input!

I will certainly get those books. Specifically, I am interested in Leichhardt, Burke and Wills and Kennedy and any other explorer who covered the south to north, north to south eastern Australia (perhaps a little bit west as well)

Ta,
Lynn2 for Rosscoe

FollowupID: 332073

Follow Up By: Big Kidz (Andrew & Jen) - Monday, Aug 09, 2004 at 19:50

Monday, Aug 09, 2004 at 19:50

Hi Rick

I have always thought that it is great to have books about places that you are going to visit. Reading about the history of a place makes so much difference to your visit there. I was going to suggest one day that interesting books about a place should be added to the Trek Notes with a link to the Exploroz shop so that we could buy them. Readers could even do a little Book report. For example, 'The Dig Tree' by Sarah Murgatroyd (the only book I have read hahahha) could be linked to the Trek Notes for Corner Country - we are going there in September so will have to have a read.

Also - while I have got you - what books should I read about the Flinders Ranges - was it Gregory or Stuart or someone that hung out around there.

Cheers

Andrew

FollowupID: 332088

Follow Up By: Member - Mungo Explorer (NSW) - Monday, Aug 09, 2004 at 20:36

Monday, Aug 09, 2004 at 20:36

I'd second the recommendation of Mugatroyd's "Dig Tree". Excellent book, very readable. And, as Andrew says, particularly so if you are familiar with that part of the country or intend to go there soon.

FollowupID: 332095

Follow Up By: Member - Rick (S.A.) - Monday, Aug 09, 2004 at 23:51

Monday, Aug 09, 2004 at 23:51

Andrew,

In reference to your question about who hung out from the Flinders; well, Eyre made the first significant discoveries. McKinlay, Frome, Parry, all have features named after them. But John McDoualll Stuart, the best of all the Aussie European explorers, based himself in the Flinders before undertaking all of his six journeys. His mates, William Finke, and James & John Chambers, had mining interstes, and pastoral properties there. In fact, Oratunga was where all the journeys left from. This is very near Blinman, in the centre of the Flinders Ranges. The property is now called Moolooloo.

Gregory came from W.A. and while he breifly skirted the very northern end of the Flinders, he is better known for his great exploration of N-W Australia. (read Keiran Kelly's book "Hard Country:Hard Men")

Cheers