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It was an early spring day in the 1940’s when my grandfather took me by the hand for a stroll in the once local bushland close to where I lived in the south east corner of South Australia. As a small boy I recall the height of Bracken ern. To me it seemed like a forest.
In an open area he would stop and point out yellow flowers and ask me to smell the fragrance. he called them Wattles. I think that must have had hypnotic effect on me as now 75 years later I often find myself stopping to smell the Wattle blooms in spring time. Little did I imagine back then that most of my whole working life would be inter-twined with plants native to the country in which I was born. Wattles, or botanically Acacias they are correctly known, would be a big part of those Australian native plants.
Acacias, or wattles as they are commonly known are the most widely distributed plant growing on the Australian continent, with some 1,063 known species to date.
This practical guide explores the possibilities of growing some of the temperate and arid Acacias as a food source and for conservation. It covers seed collection, propagation, Aboriginal language names, food and nutritional value and much more.
Another chapter of interest includes people who, in their own way, tell the author of their experiences with this iconic Australia genera.
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When Harold Bell Lasseter disappeared in late 1930 it could have been the end of a mystery. Thirty-three years earlier he had staggered out of the desert, almost dead, his pockets bulging with gold, claiming to have found a 15 kilometre gold reef. The mystery deepened when he and a surveyor returned to the isolated and mysterious ranges where the reef was supposed to be located. It became legendary when the largest inland expedition since Burke and Wills was launched.
In LASSETER’S GOLD, Warren Brown vividly recreates the drama of the search – the characters, the fights, the soaring temperatures, the impossible terrain, the plane crash, the pistol-carrying dingo-skinner who appeared out of nowhere. And just who was this man Lasseter? A one-time sailor, a bigamist, a man who claimed John Bradfield stole his plans for a single-span bridge to cross Sydney Harbour – was he also a very, very good liar?
LASSETER’S GOLD is the gripping story of an outback legend. Is it just a myth – or is there really a massive gold reef out there, just waiting to be discovered?
The Shepparton Talk
Len Beadell has been named the last True Australian Explorer for opening up over 2.5 million square kilometres of rugged Australian Outback. Follow the stories of Len through one of his many public speaking engagements.
Listened to and loved by people of all generations.
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Enduring the extremes of isolation Len and his mates truly made their mark on outback Australia. He dubbed this group the “Gunbarrel Road Construction Party” and together they created more than 6000 kilometers of roads across, and in some cases hitherto unexplored, parts of Australia.
This occurred during the “cold war” years of the 1940s, 50s and 60s.
Len was still in the Australian Army Survey Corps following war service in New Guinea and as the project to test intercontinental ballistic missiles was “top secret” he was given the job to locate and survey a site suitable for these tests and it was Len who chose Woomera as that site.
This road network was given access to military and scientific personnel during the rocket testing trials from Woomera and atomic test at Emu and Maralinga.
Running time 80 minutes.
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Australia’s Atomic Bomb and Rocket Roads – Len Beadell’s name is now part of the folklore of the Australian outback, and he has achieved something resembling hero status amongst many people who might be inclined to describe themselves as “typical Australians”.
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A riveting tale of adventure, romance, tragedy and mateship, Alwyn's story is also a tribute to the outback and the characters who make it special. From Winton to Wanganui, this is the ride of a lifetime.
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Over the years I’ve learnt many trades, including electrical. In 1975 I bought a small crops farm near Gympie, then in 1991 bought a cattle station in North Queensland. By the late 90’s I sold up to hit the road, where I took on all sorts of maintenance work throughout Australia and enjoyed a vast array of outback experiences.
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Minerals fundamentally contribute to the manufacture of vital requisites such as food, clothing, heat, light and shelter, in order for human communities to exist.
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Written by John Maddock, a past editor of Truck and Bus magazine It is an easy to read book about the mail runs in the corner country and about Harry Ding’s (H.E. Ding of Yunta South Australia) and trucks which contributed so much to those living in isolated areas of Australia in the 1930’s.
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The story of Tom Kruse ‘a tribute to a man who earned the love of a whole generation of Australians’
Tom Kruse always got the mail through-come drought, hell or high water. This is a truly a classic Australian story, and captures part of our history that is fast vanishing.
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Grandfather and Grandmother telling lots of stories. They had to live at Yalata. Their home was bombed. That was their home where the bomb went off. They thought it was mamu tjuta, evil spirits, coming. Everyone was frightened, thinking about people back in the bush. Didn’t know what bomb was. Later told it was poison. Parents and grandparents really wanted to go home, used to talk all the time to get their land back.’
Yvonne Edwards was just six years old when the first bombs of the nuclear tests at Maralinga were detonated in 1956. The tests continued until 1963 and their consequences profoundly affected her family and community.
This powerful book, by award-winning author Christobel Mattingley, honours Yvonne Edwards’ legacy as a highly respected artist and community elder
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Marree is a small town located in the north of South Australia. It lies 685 kilometres North of Adelaide at the junction of the Oodnadatta Track and the Birdsville Track, 49 metres above sea level. Marree is an important service centre for the large sheep and cattle stations in northeast South Australia as well as a stopover destination for tourists traveling along the Birdsville or Oodnadatta tracks.
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There are many books written about Matthew Flinders detailing his life and maritime experiences. The better known books are re mentioned in the bibliography at the rear of this book.
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The Flinders and Mount Lofty Ranges of South Australia consist of rocks once deposited as sediments in an elongated basin. This basin known as the Adelaide Geosyncline, stretches from Kangaroo Island to at least as far as Oodnadatta and across to Broken Hill. The rocks of this world-famous geological province provide a record of changing environments and life forms spanning a period from 1100 to 500 million years before present.
This is a 66 page soft cover book which has many maps, photos and drawings.
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Mopokes and Mirages? Both part of the great Australian Folklore, but neither having much substance. No such bird as a mopoke and a bit hard to get your hand or mind around a mirage.
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Mulga Madness is a hilarious collection of true stories, which pay tribute to Australian bush humour.
Rex Ellis has a great sense of humour, he has spent his life working on outback stations and running his tours to remote outback areas of Australia, he writes a good book.