Non-fiction

History of the Wedderburn [Victoria] Goldfields – J R Gray

A very nice copy of a hard to find copy published by Queensberry Hill Press in 1981.

Octavo, 92 pages, illustrated by Phillip Belfrage, who has nicely signed the half title. His sketches are better than the usual. Large coloured folding map at the rear too big for our imaging system.

Wedderburn on the Calder Highway in Victoria was an early gold area known for its sizeable nugget finds … an area with a number of gold rush waves leading to an interesting and varied history. Nicely written with good facts on the numerous reefs worked by those with the fever.

A special gold book – maybe one for the nuggeter.

$90.00

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Discovery – Stories of Modern Mineral Exploration – Alan Trengove

A fine copy of the first edition published by Stockwell Press in 1979.

Octavo, 278 pages, illustrated from photographs and numerous maps of mineral areas.

Starts with the “Forgotten Frontier” … Cape York and the Weipa area. Then the Bowen expanses, Pilbara before the arrival of the super mines, Gold and the advent of the offshore drilling ships. Closes with an appendix “A History of Resources of Metallic Ores” by King. Well its all a history really.

What is now a super background to the history of mineral exploration in Australia.

$30.00

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The Wreck of the Amsterdam – Peter Marsden – First Edition 1974

The Dutch East Indiaman set out on her maiden voyage in 1748 loaded with cargo and silve7r, with three hundred people on board.

A storm in the English Channel forced the captain to beach her near Hastings after a near mutiny.

She’s still there and at the occasional low tide remnants can be seen from the shore. Peter Marsden was the Field archaeologist at the London Guildhall Museum and he was called in when a party of workmen with access to a digger tried their luck and found something rather special.

First edition published by Hutchinson, London in 1974. Octavo, 288 pages, heavily and well illustrated. A very good copy.

The Wreck of the Amsterdam; a long time afterwards fresh discoveries are made.

$30.00

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Smelling the Breezes – A Journey Through the High Lebanon – R and M Izzard

Published by the Travel Book Club, a Foyles invention in conjunction with Hodder, London in 1959. A first edition.

Octavo, 253 pages with a few illustrations from photographs. A very good clean copy.

The authors, the Izzards were an adventurous lot, tramping 300 miles through the high country behind and down from the Lebanon. A really interesting account of an area rarely tackled with such attention to detail and respect for the people, environment, history etc.

The Lebanon and up at the back in the High Country.

$25.00

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Port Arthur Railway Across Tasman Peninsula – Australia’s First Railway – Bayley

Published in the early 1970’s this is an interesting historical account of what was the first railway in Australia, albeit convict powered.

The author William Bayley self published a number of well researched historical documents. Octavo, 64 pages, illustrated heavily and well throughout. Fine copy.

Much about Booth and his plans, the Port Arthur settlement and discovery of coal on the other side of the peninsula. The need for the railway, its construction and the manpower. The visit of Trollope and other incidentals.

The first railway – no mean feat for anyone.

$25.00

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Through a Land of Promise – With Gun, Car and Camera in the Heart of Northern Australia – Michael Terry – 1927

Self described “The Last Explorer” Michael Terry began his Australian adventures in 1923. This is his second book of five accounts of his extensive travels in Australia’s most difficult terrain. Scarce and sought after..

Published by Herbert Jenkins in 1927 a first edition. Royal octavo, 336 pages with map and 60 plus plates. Very good condition.

From Katherine in the Northern Territory to Broome in Western Australia [The Northern Territory boundaries were only re-established in 1931 – hence the title could confuse some]. An unusual journey not only for the odd bunch of chaps who went along… Lord Apley etc … Terry had his sponsors to deal with. Other maybe more qualified. Much detail and a curious writing style that begs to be read. As with all of Terry’s books a sound source for information and images of the aboriginal people of the region.

Michael Terry (1899-1981) was born at Gateshead on the other side of the river at Newcastle- Upon Tyne, England. He learned to drive in WWI. He was captured in Russia and later released. Not too good from the experience he was advised to seek warmer climes and made his way to Australia, first in Perth then in Queensland from which he launched this original venture, before honing in on his favourite North Western region.

He had tried to get sponsorship from Henry Ford which was not forthcoming. Returning briefly to England he published this book, lectured at the Royal geographical Society, winning the Cuthbert Peek award. Through these endeavours he garnered enough finance to return Down under and continue his exploits with both motor vehicles and perhaps more practical camels. He featured on the bicentennial commemorative $10 note with his favourite camel “Dick”.

Michael Terry on of the last adventurers and “obviously” a good mechanic.

$290.00

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History of the Wedderburn [Victoria] Goldfields – J R Gray

Discovery – Stories of Modern Mineral Exploration – Alan Trengove

The Wreck of the Amsterdam – Peter Marsden – First Edition 1974

Smelling the Breezes – A Journey Through the High Lebanon – R and M Izzard

Port Arthur Railway Across Tasman Peninsula – Australia’s First Railway – Bayley

Through a Land of Promise – With Gun, Car and Camera in the Heart of Northern Australia – Michael Terry – 1927

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