Thread: Books to read on Australia history.

Anything by Dr Tony Matthews. He's written stuff about bushrangers, Chinese miners, and, IIRC, a book on pioneer's harrowing escapes from nature, natives, and floods. His stuff is all meticulously researched, and as accurate as possible. He's also been commissioned to do some native American history research. HTH

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Originally Posted by boa

Not the common ones, I read a book many years ago about a swag man in Victoria. He arrived and was shocked at what he saw. Can't think of its name. But brutal in its honesty. It would make a good film. Historic account is intriguing. Depending on who you believe.

I think this may be the book you are talking about:

Theodor Muller arrived from Switzerland into Sydney in December, 1857. For the next nineteen years, he roamed through outback Australia, mostly on foot, travelling as far north as Brisbane, west to Mudgee, and south to Gundagai. He was a backpacking tourist long before any conveniences for such existed.

Upon his return to Switzerland, Muller wrote a memoir of his memorable time in Australia, entitled Neunzehn Jahre in Australian. The current edition has been translated into English, and expanded with maps, illustrations, and historical annotations.

The Swiss Swagman is a vivid and engaging exploration of Australia's historical outback, a land of swagmen, bushrangers, settlers and unusual wildlife, from the point of view of a curious, intrepid and observant stranger.

A wonderful book for historians, anyone with a love of Australiana or those curious about backpacking in the 1800s.

The link to the book info and where to get it is The Swiss Swagman: Pan Macmillan Australia

I read it years ago and found it fascinating.

If you like early history of Australia that tells both the white and indigenous perspective you may like The Colony by Grace Karskens see the info at this link The Colony

The best way to understand a country, including your own, is to understand the sort of people who built the place.

Read "Mailman of the Birdsvile Track" about Tom Kruse,

Read "A Son of the Red Centre" - Kurt Johannsen invented the road train among other things...

Read a book called "Around Australia the Hard way in 1929" about 2 blokes on an old Harley in the depression - an interesting snapshot of the times...

"Islands of Angry Ghosts" by Hugh Edwards is a great read, it details the wreck of the Batavia on the Abrolhos Islands here in Western Australia in 1629. The first part of the book tells the story of what happened at the time and the second part of the book details the discovery of the wreck in 1963 and the recovery of part of the ship itself and various items from the wreck site.


Another excellent book on the same subject is the brilliant "Voyage to Disaster" by Henrietta Drake Brockman. This woman was simply inspirational in her quest to find the wreck itself and the true story of what actually took place on the ship before the wreck and during the subsequent stranding on the Abrolhos Islands. It is fair to say that without the research this lady put in the Batavia may not have been discovered for another hundred years. An amazing woman for sure.

Crow on a barbed wire fence by Harold Lewis.
Great read.

Wilful Murder in the Outback by Arch Burnett.
I doubt if you will find it in print anywhere but the State Library has a copy (or copies). Years since I read it, but a good read!
Maree and the Tracks Beyond, Lois Litchfield.
Where the Seasons Come and Go. Eric Bonython.
Bagmen Millionaires. John Andersen.
Packhorse Drover. Bruce Simpson.
Innamincka. Elizabeth Burchill.
Australian Pioneer Women. Eve Pownall.
Kalumburu War Diary. Fr Eugene Perez
and as mentioned;
Mail for the Back of Beyond.
Sons of the Red Centre.
Any of Ron Edwards books on Australian Bushcrafts and Skills.
Any of Len Beadells books
and many, many more.




Cheers, Mick.