outback information

Permaculture, A Designer’s Manual * Highly recommended

Bill Mollison, 1988 and reprinted many times
Tagari Publications, Tyalgum (New South Wales)
Permaculture is basically common-sense agriculture — practical, logical, sustainable living.

This inspiring, classic book is jammed full of useful, practical information, easy to understand diagrams and illustrative photos. Covers everything to do with living sustainably, from soil, climate, vegetation to housing design and practical recycling. It’s easy to look up information via the very detailed index.

Written Bill Mollison, considered by many to be a legend and described as the ‘godfather of permaculture’.

Big mobs

Glen McLaren, 2000
Freemantle Arts Centre Press, Freemantle (Western Australia)
A unique book, very well researched and objective, that gives a good understanding of the complete history of Australia’s pastoral industry while blowing away a few old myths.

Managing the Channel Country sustainably — producers’ experiences

Vince Edmondston, 2001
Published by the Queensland DPI
ISSN 0727-6273
A large booklet full of priceless personal opinions and experiences of station managers in the channel country, spread from Boulia south to Lake Eyre. A must-read for anyone who thinks that shifting company station managers every couple of years is a smart idea. The value of personal observation and experience is obvious. If only there were more books that recorded first hand knowledge gathered over decades.

Hungerford’s diseases of livestock

T.G. Hungerford, 1945 & reprinted and updated many times since
Very solid book of information on diseases, parasites, plant poisoning etc that afflict sheep, cattle, pigs, dogs, cats, horses and goats.

Sheep diseases

A Brightling, 1988
Inkata Press, Melbourne (Victoria)
Comprehensive book of sheep diseases, parasites & other nasty afflictions. Graphic photos a great help for accurate diagnosis, but not recommended reading just prior to dinner.

Ron Edward’s Rams Skull Press, Kuranda, Queensland

A Field Guide to the Skills of the Australian Bushman

Ron Edwards, 1996
Rams Skull Press, Kuranda (north Queensland)
Excellent book written with a bushie’s typical dry humour. Clearly explains a myriad of things to make and how to repair stuff in the bush. From doing a Cobb & Co (twitched fencing wire) to making a ‘chooks cafeteria’, and bush toys for children.

The Australian Museum — Complete book of Australian Mammals — The National photographic index of Australian wildlife

Edited by Ronald Strahan, 1983, & reprinted (1991).
Cornstalk publishing (Collins/Angus & Robertson), Sydney (New South Wales)
Hefty, comprehensive and beautifully presented reference book with unsurpassed photographs and information regarding unique Australian mammals.

Reptiles & amphibians of Australia

Harold G Cogger, 1975 & reprinted (1994)
Reed Books/William Heinemann, Chatswood (New South Wales)
This is THE book to own to identify Australian lizards, frogs and snakes — the most comprehensive reference book on the subject, with good quality photographs, distribution maps and information.

Wildlife on farms — how to conserve native animals

Various authors, 2003
CSIRO publishing, Collingwood (Victoria)
The book is most applicable to more closely settled farming country in Southern Australia, however it is an excellent reference book. It lists a number of prominent endangered native animals and has photos, distribution maps, descriptions and practical advice on what exactly can be done to preserve their habitat and help ensure their survival. A good example is curlews — still common in the north (amazingly), but now unfortunately rare in much of southern Australia.

Plants of Western New South Wales

G.M. Cunningham, W.E. Mulham, P.L. Milthorpe, J.H. Leigh, 1992
Inkata Press/Butterworth-Heinemann, Lane Cove (Sydney)
Very large and comprehensive reference book. Quality photos and information. Quite a few of the plants shown grown in other parts of central Australia.

Field Guide to Weeds in Australia

Charles Lamp & Frank Collet, 1976 then many reprints
Inkata Press, Melbourne (Victoria)
Excellent reference book with accurate photos, however most of the weeds featured are a problem only in more temperate regions, i.e. southern Australia, where most farming takes place. Weeds specific to grazing country in northern Australia, such as rubbervine, are not mentioned.

Traditional Bush Medicines — an aboriginal pharmacopoeia

Aboriginal Communities of Northern Australia, 1988
Greenhouse publications, Richmond (Victoria)
Excellent bush medicine reference book — excellent plant photographs, line drawings, location maps plus information with good technical glossaries also.

Help & Hints for Outback Gardeners:

Compiled by Rhondda Alexander
Isolated Children’s Parents Association (ICPA), 1990s?
Excellent practical & realistic information for outback gardeners, that you won’t find in the gardening pages of a ‘national’ newspaper, glossy magazine or fancy ‘lifestyle’ television programme.

First hand information from residents in South-West Queensland, specifically Boulia, Bedourie and Birdsville, dealing with climate, soil and water difficulties — big difficulties. What will grow and what won’t, and how to keep it healthy.

It died while I was away
- Incorporating ‘It died in the oven’

Published by the Richmond Cultural Association
Great advice on gardening by station residents between Winton, Julia Creek and Hughenden (northwest Queensland) where the water, soil and harsh humid/dry climate is not popular with many types of plants (in fact you’re flat out growing anything higher than a fence post in the downs country with the heaviest soil).

Tropical Food Gardens
— a guide to growing fruit, herbs and vegetables in tropical and soils and climates

Leonie Norrington, with illustrations by Colwyn Campbell, 2000
Bloomings Books, Melbourne (Victoria)
Absolutely beautiful illustrations complement excellent practical information on rewarding gardening in harsh tropical wet/dry climates, based on Leonie’s decades of first-hand experience in the north. Easy to use alphabetical index of plants. Most applicable to far northern areas of relatively good rainfall but the principles also apply further south where there is less rain.

The Australian House — Houses of the Tropical North

Balvant Saini & Ray Joyce, 1982 & reprinted (2002)
New Holland Publishers, Frenchs Forest (New South Wales)
Absolutely splendid magazine-style soft cover book, one of my all time favourites. I love authentic Australian architecture and this book is made up of quality photos of the fabulous features that make Queenslander-style houses unique. With a good glossary and list of further references. If only we were still building such practical , good quality and good looking houses of character.

The CWA Cookery Book and Household Hints * Highly recommended

Compiled by a committee led by Mrs Agnes Barnes, 1936 (then updated & reprinted more than 40 times over more than 60 years)
Published by the Country Women’s Association of Western Australia (Perth)
This is THE classic CWA book. A very solid, stocky book with a dark blue hardback cover, that doesn’t rely on glossy pics for impact — it has survived more than seventy decades by providing reliable quality, useful information. Great practical recipes and in the back there’s a heap of useful info such as how to remove marks made by hot plates on a polished table, how to check whether eggs are fresh, etc.

Bundaberg QCWA Cookery Book

1977
I can highly recommend the Russian caramels on page 190 — yum. Usual practical CWA information eg metric conversions, plus extra information like the correct placement for an assortment of cutlery and wine glasses at a flash dinner.

Helpful Hints for Hopeless Housewives (and handy mutton recipes)

Compiled by Winton QCWA
1972 (reprinted 1997)
A truckload of handy stuff that used to be handed down verbally by generations of efficient, capable housekeepers. I think I now know exactly where those writers of fashionable ‘natural cleaning products in the home’ books have sourced all their info from — and it’s not new! And finally discovered exactly how my husband must have buckled two of our 60 year old saucepans when I was away; ‘do not put cold water into hot frying pans immediately after use or they will buckle’. Until I read that, I really wasn’t sure how he managed it.

Also has some great games to play in the car, not just the usual ‘I Spy’. Handy for anyone travelling long distances such as you find around the Winton region.

How many Grids to Gregory?

Compiled by the Gregory Branch of QCWA
1977 (then reprinted in the 1990s)
Usual handy recipes plus some great historical information and photographs, including one of a team of 4 billygoats pulling a small water cart at Burketown (Gulf of Carpentaria, far north Queensland)

Distance Education Delicacies

Charleville SODE (School of Distance Education)
Early 1990s
Handy recipes and information, plus a detailed list of quantities to aid in calculating catering purchases for very large groups at events.

The Best Tucker Ever — Recipes from the Kidman Camps & Kitchens

Published by Sidney Kidman & Co, 2002
No-bull recipes from Kidman staff, with excellent aerial photos of a different Kidman station at the start of each chapter.

The Brief on Beef Cookbook

AACo 175th Anniversary
1999
A huge number of recipes from AACo staff, put together by Carmel Wagstaff while at Brunette Downs. The bookcover is cleverly decorated with Australian Agricultural Company station brands. There is a great list of contributors in the book but no names on the recipes, no doubt because it involved too much extra stuffing around, but it would have been great to know who provided which recipes. But Carmel has put a huge amount of work into the book, including a glossary of culinary terms and comprehensive recipe index. Plus an alphabetical list of handy hints such as ‘cane toads do not like dettol’ and how to clean a camp oven (vital sort of info — if you don’t get it right, it rusts to bits quickly).

Simply Beef

Cattleman’s Union, Clermont Branch (central Queensland), 1990s
A stack of practical and tasty beef recipes, with useful information on beef cuts, what cut is best for which recipe and cooking tips etc.

How to Cook when the Wife is Crook — A Handbook for the Harried Husband * Highly Recommended

Ron Edwards, 2002
Rams Skull Press, Kuranda (north Queensland)
Hilarious, Ron Edwards has a priceless sense of humour which begins with the title and continues right through the book, as evident from the index on page 3:
- vegie dishes
- potato dishes (spuds are too good to count as vegies)
- meat dishes
- sausages (just in case you don’t count them as meat dishes)
and his ‘Important Tips in Basic Kitchen Management’ are hilarious too. This book is a great present, unique.

Outback Travel:

Safe Outback Travel * Highly recommended

Jack Absalom, 1976 then numerous reprints
The Five Mile Press, Fitzroy (Victoria)
Not some fancy slick publication slapped together by someone who has only left the suburbs in their top-of-the-range 4wd to tour around in airconditioned comfort. ‘Safe outback travel’ has excellent, practical information on travelling in remote areas written by a real bush character who is thoroughly familiar with his subject.

Outback Camping:

Bush camps & rest areas around Australia — caravanners guide to Highway one and the Sturt Highway

Paul Smedley, 1994 (revised edition has been reprinted since, I think)
Self published, Oaklands Park (South Australia)
Very handy book for travellers as it contains objective and comprehensive information, unlike many glossy expensively printed tourist brochures that only list places that have chosen to pay hefty advertising fees.

Northern Outback Plants & Geology:

Geology & Landforms of the Kimberley — Bush Books Series

Ian Tyler, 1996
Department of Conservation & Land Management (CALM), Perth (Western Australia)
Excellent pocket guide to the geology of the Kimberley region, arranged into a list of the most spectacular landforms, with clear explanations and diagrams. The fascinating Bungle Bungle Range is included.

Common Plants of the Kimberley — Bush Books Series

Various Authors, 1990s
Department of Conservation & Land Management (CALM), Perth (Western Australia)
Excellent pocket guide to the most obvious Kimberley trees, bushes, shrubs etc; with excellent photos to aid identification.

Jawoyn Plant Identikit
Common useful plants in the Katherine area of Northern Australia

Glenn Wightman & Jessie Brown, 1994
Published by the Conservation Commission
Excellent pocket sized guide to ‘useful’ plants in the wider Katherine area; excellent photos.

Bush Tucker Identikit
Common native food plants of Australia’s Top End

Glenn Wightman & Milton Andrews, 1990s
Published by the Conservation Commission
Excellent pocket sized guide to bush tucker plants of the Kimberleys, Northern Territory and Queensland Gulf Country, with excellent photos.

Bush Medicine Identikit
Common medicinal plants of Australia

Glenn Wightman & Lynette Mills, 1990s
Published by the Conservation Commission
Excellent pocket sized guide to bush medicine plants of the Kimberleys, Northern Territory and Queensland Gulf Country, with excellent photos.

Tucker in the Bush Books:

The Glovebox Cookbook

Patricia Martin. Photographs by Howard Young, 1993
Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst (New South Wales)
Top travellers cookbook — perfectly simple but tasty tucker. Patricia Martin got her cooking experience in the Kimberleys on Home Valley, Fossil Downs, The Bush Camp and Carlton Hill station.

Outback Cooking in the Camp Oven * Highly recommended

Jack & Reg Absalom, photographs by Jocelyn Burt, 1976 (& reprinted)
The Five Mile Press, Fitzroy (Victoria)
Jack and his uncle Reg Absalom, who spent a lifetime as a shearers, station and camp cook. A top book, practical recipes and excellent photographs by Jocelyn Burt, it gives you the urge to head bush, camping. When in a stockcamp in 2007 the campcook told me it was by far the most useful cookbook he had. More than 100,000 copies sold, so obviously a lot of other people liked it also.