Early Explorers - Any good books worth a read?

"Crossing the dead heart" Cecil Madigan. Can get it at most libraries and bookstores. It all comes to life if you do the trip.

Hello try post 19910 for some interesting leads
Cheers
Greg

Do a search on Google for Australian Explorers. You'll find more info, including published works for free, than you could ever read.
To be honest, you'd have to pick an area of interest and chase that up. "Australian Explorers" is just too humungous.
For example, if doing the CSR I can think of at least 6 major expeditions that dont even scratch the surface of the history of that area.
I think the story that captures my imagination is poor old Gibson riding off into the dunes, never to be seen again.
And when you're sick of reading all the factual accounts, you can read about Harold Lassiter :))

PS type in a few explorers names here and you can get entire journals
gutenberg ebooks

Cheers
Greg

Also Hesperian Press reprint few books

Hesperian Press

Cheers
Greg

As do Friends of the State Library of South Australia
Friends of the State Library of South Australia

Cheers
Greg

Try,
Explorers of Australia
by Geoggrey Badger
Published by Kangaroo Press
Printed by Griffin Press, Adelaide.

This is a facinating book that cover many explorers including Burke and Wills.

Best part is the book is not that exy.
And may be available through this site.

For Central Australia, 'Australia Twice Traversed' which is a compilation of 4 of Giles' diaries/logs. A great read if exploring this area ( eg Finke River/Chambers Pillar, Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon and West). Helps you to see how easy we get it these days with a/c cabs and plenty of water.

Cheers

Bundy

I can recommend a book written on early Australian explorers by an explorer, so it's from a perspective of an experienced explorer, not just someone who's done research.

Try this: Favenc for starters, and there is a paperback

(maybe Explorers of Australia by Ernest Favenc
Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd, 1908)

The Eplorer has given you many good leads.

Here's a lsit that is by no means comprehensive. It will, however, get you a decent perspective on that Innamincka region:

- The Dig Tree by Sarah Murgatroyd
- Big John by Kim Lockwood
- Kidman: The Forgotten King by Jill Bowen
- Drought or Deluge by HM Tolcher. The most authoritative history of Innamincka and surrounding properties. This book is carefully researched and deals with everything from Aborigines to Aeroplanes, floods to flying doctors and dingoes to drovers. The decline of the township in the 50’s and its rise again in the 80’s was influenced by cattle prices, natural gas and tourism. The tragedy of Burke and Wills and the intrigue of Harry Redford is all included in this great book. Republished by the author. 267 p.

I also recommend, for general interest:

- John McDoaull Stuart by Mona Stuart Webster
- The Explorers by Tim Flannery
- Explorers of Australia bt Ernesrt Favenc
- Tarnished Heroes by the Bush Tucker Man, Les Hiddens
- Two Expeditions into Southern Australia. Charles Sturt. ISBN 1.1876247-09-6 This book continues the Les Hiddens series of explorers’ journals. A newly typeset edition of Sturt’s most important work; the journals of the expeditions into the interior of New South Wales in 1829 –1831. A large paperback edition, 360 pages with four full colour plates and two maps.
- To the Inland Sea by Edward Stokes
- Across the Centre by Edward Stokes
- The Desert Coast by Edward Stokes
- Ill starred Captains by Anthony Brown
- Australia Twice Traversed - Ernest Giles' own narrative of his explorations .

Have fun - lots of hours entertainment here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers

Rick (S.A.)

There is a book called the Dig Tree (I think) . Can't remember the author. It's an historically correct novel and very good, easy read. Can't ecommend it highly enough if your are interestd in Robert O'Hara Burke and his expedition from Melbourne. If you are contemplating going to Innamincka don't leave home without this book.

If you prefer videos there was a 10 edpisode series by Bill Peach which covered a variety of the early explorers. I think it was entitled Bill Peaches Australia. Available from ABC shops but hellish expensive. If you have contacts to a school you might be able to get copies at a reasonable cost. That's what I did although the quality is not great.

Also there is an excellent display at the Stockmans' Hall of Fame at Longreach Qld. I coud have spent days at that place just taking int he all the info about the early pioneers.
Enjoy.

If anyone is doing the Canning, Eileen Smith's book on Trotman is definately worth a read. I found an old copy in the library but when in Alice Springs I found it new in paperback.

An interesting footnote related to the Burke and Wills trip is that you could start at Swan Hill at the now famous Moreton Bay fig that was planted to commemerate the start of their trip.

I never knew it was there until Tuesday when I was wandering around Swan Hill and found the Burke & Wills Tree in the back of the main street.

It is huge. Apparently the biggest specimen of that type of tree in Australia. About a 90-100ft cannopy and about 12ft across the trunk.

Maybe now you can do a tree to tree trip.

Dave

My personal favourite is "Spinfex and Sand" by David Wynford Carnegie. There's heaps of adventure in that one. Is is available on the net.

Eq.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1563924420/103-7010166-6793403?v=glance

Good book on early explorers

While not an "explorer" per se, Ion Idriess wrote many, many interesting stories about his travels and life, mostly in the northern part of Australia. Eg Lasseter's Last Ride, Flynn of the Inland, Man Tracks, One Wet Season, Nemarluk, and especially Men of the Jungle (dealing with his life in the Daintree, Roaring Meg Falls and hinterland, and which would be of interest to anyone who's done, or plans to do, the FNQ trip to Cape York), to name just a few of his ~40 books.

Also not an explorer but definitely a good read about life in the Top End is Tom Cole's "Hell West & Crooked".

You'd need the Library for Idriess but Cole's book is still in the bookshops. Also his 2nd book about post-war life in PNG "Last Paradise".

Though I've read and enjoyed many accounts of the early explorers, I enjoy stuff like Up the Track by Douglas Lockwood and Ayers Rock and Beyond by Bill Harney the (1st) legendary ranger from that area and of course Len Beadell has done a series of (books) accounts of his work and experiences in the outback. Mostly 50's and 60's era (earlier for Harney) but relevant to us as they did drive Landrovers around as opposed to the early explorers. Fascinating how these guys learned from the Aborigines. I'm reading Beadell's Gunbarrel Highway now. Excellent.

Tim Bowden has produced a couple of books worth looking at. He is a present day traveller and historian who likes to pick up on the explorers of this great land, following their journeys, even trying to camp in the same places they camped. A good lighthearted read and full of interest. "Penelope Goes West" (crosing the Nullabor), "Penelope Bungles to Broome" (The Kimberley), and "The Devil in Tim" (Tasmania).
Happy camping,
Mike and Jan.

ShnogDog, If your interested in Burk & wills Check out the state libery of Victoria website (slv) I think. I did a search on B&W lots cof info there. great trip out there, Population 11 on last count.

ShnogDog,

Looks of good books recommended so far, particulary by Rick (SA) who I know share my own avid interest in Aust. pioneers and explorers. I was going to recommend it any way but especially since your heading out to the Dig Tree soon, you MUST read "The Dig Tree - The Story of Burke & Wills" by Sarah Murgatroyd. Be warned though, you might have trouble putting it down.

You could also try:
"Crossing the Dead Heart" by Cecil Madigan
"Explorations by John McDouall Stuart ( a bit of a slog but interesting)

The following are a bit of a mix of early and modern day explorations but good yarns:
"Dune is a four-letter word" by Griselda Sprigg (excellent)
"Mailman of the Birdsville Track" by Kristin Weidenbach
"Tanami" by Kieran Kelly
"Hard Country Hard Men - In the Footsteps of Gregory" by Kieran Kelly
"The Singing Line" by Alice Thomson (tells the story of Todd and the construction of the telegraph line across Aust.)

Depends on your definition of explorers but I tend to think of our early pioneers and prospectors as explorers since they opened up so much of the country:
"Beyond the Big Run" by Charlie Schultz & Lewis
"Fifteen Hundred down the Murranji" by Bob Lunney
"Hell West and Crooked" by Tom Cole
"Mates & Gold" by NK Sligo
"S'pose I Die - the Evelyn Maunsell Story" by Hector Holthouse
"River of Gold" by Hector Holthouse (a gripping yarn about the wild days of the Palmer River Gold Rush and one of my all-time favourites).

Hesperian Press has an endless supply of books of this kind which can be ordered on-line.

Happy reading!

:o) Melissa

ShnogDog,

Lots of good books recommended so far, particulary by Rick (SA) who I know share my own avid interest in Aust. pioneers and explorers. I was going to recommend it any way but especially since your heading out to the Dig Tree soon, you MUST read "The Dig Tree - The Story of Burke & Wills" by Sarah Murgatroyd. Be warned though, you might have trouble putting it down.

You could also try:
"Crossing the Dead Heart" by Cecil Madigan
"Explorations by John McDouall Stuart ( a bit of a slog but interesting)

The following are a bit of a mix of early and modern day explorations but good yarns:
"Dune is a four-letter word" by Griselda Sprigg (excellent)
"Mailman of the Birdsville Track" by Kristin Weidenbach
"Tanami" by Kieran Kelly
"Hard Country Hard Men - In the Footsteps of Gregory" by Kieran Kelly
"The Singing Line" by Alice Thomson (tells the story of Todd and the construction of the telegraph line across Aust.)

Depends on your definition of explorers but I tend to think of our early pioneers and prospectors as explorers since they opened up so much of the country:
"Beyond the Big Run" by Charlie Schultz & Lewis
"Fifteen Hundred down the Murranji" by Bob Lunney
"Hell West and Crooked" by Tom Cole
"Mates & Gold" by NK Sligo
"S'pose I Die - the Evelyn Maunsell Story" by Hector Holthouse
"River of Gold" by Hector Holthouse (a gripping yarn about the wild days of the Palmer River Gold Rush and one of my all-time favourites).

Hesperian Press has an endless supply of books of this kind which can be ordered on-line.

Happy reading!

:o) Melissa