outback information

In December 2005 Bob Katter MP launched the book 'A Million Acre Masterpiece - images of Australia's largest cattle stations.' It contains two decades of photographs taken from helicopters, horseback and bullcatchers on many of Australia's most famous properties. More than 200 images are accompanied by captions plus a large glossary explaining many specifically bush words and expressions. It is self—published and there are no plans to reprint it when sold out. Order your personally signed copy straight away because stocks are now low.

The following lists of books aren't meant to be definitive, they are those I have come across that I think are good quality and have enjoyed. There's dozens more in the bookcase waiting to be read, and they'll be added here when time can be found to read them.

I don't sell any of the books below. A large number would no longer be in print but some can be found in secondhand bookshops and on the internet. Sorry due to the volume of emails received, I do not have the resources to respond to enquiries regarding where these books can be purchased.

Some of these books are the ones sent to prize winners, because they are my favourites. More information in Prize Draws.

The Most Talented Rural Writer That I Know Of

Steele Rudd (his real name is Arthur Hoey Davis)

The University of Queensland Press is to be commended for their 1992 publication of a fabulous collection of Steele Rudd's writing. It is contained in a set of four large books titled, 'The Rudd Family', 'A City Selection', 'On Our Selection' and 'The Old Homestead'.

These days many people have never actually read any of Rudd's writing yet they dismiss it as unsophisticated, hayseed humour. This view has been encouraged by hideously corny 'Dad and Dave' jokes written in recent years by people who certainly have not understood Rudd's writing. The public's negative view would have been increased by the 1995 slapstick film 'On Our Selection', whose main accomplishment was to illustrate that the filmmakers had absolutely no understanding of the subtleties of Rudd's writing. (This film is described on the Australian Film Commission website as 'delightful'. They may as well have said 'silly' and 'embarrassing'.)

Steele Rudd's writing is an excellent mixture of classic dry humour combined with gritty rural realities. The tragedies and the joy. Much of the writing will bring tears to the eyes due to laughter or empathy. Any country person who reads these stories will immediately recognise that Arthur Hoey Davis had an exceedingly thorough understanding of rural life. His eloquent, observant and sensitive writing of characters and happenings are as relevant today as they were when written. 'On Sandy's Selection' (contained in the UQP book titled 'On Our Selection') is an especially beautifully written classic, well worth reading and re-reading.

Perhaps there are no books in print at present however a good ferret around second hand bookshops will usually turn something up.

But do avoid as much as possible hideous 'abridged' [condensed] versions of old books. Too many books have been butchered by later publishers who have cut out subtleties and details that are integral to a complete understanding of the story, or the story has been tinkered with to make it more 'politically correct'. If a story is worth reading then it's worth reading the whole lot, as the author intended — later alterations inevitably interfere with the original intentions of the author and change the tone.

Arthur Hoey Davis lived from 1868 until 1935 and he deserves to be remembered as an immensely talented writer who was the equal of C.J. Dennis, Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson.

Recommended Bushcraft and Heritage Books

Ron Edward’s Rams Skull Press, Kuranda, Queensland

Ron Edwards is one of the most multi-skilled creative blokes around. He can paint, draw, write (with a great sense of humour) and has a huge fund of practical knowledge regarding leatherwork and other aspects of bushcraft. Plus he's been self-publishing for decades.

His books and booklets have easy to follow instructions and illustrations and to cap it off they're full of character and wit. They cover everything from making different sorts of stockwhips, saddlery, Turks head knots and secret plaiting to all manner of other bushcrafts. These books really are unique. Ron has created as much as half a dozen busy people would be pleased to accomplish in one lifetime. Everyone who has any interest in the bush should own at least one of Ron's drawings, paintings or books.

Recommended Biographies & Bush Stories

Most of these books are not just a good read. They are also very valuable historical records of cultural significance and historical value.

• A son of the Red Centre

  Kurt Johannsen, 1992, Alice Springs (Northern Territory) (self published). A great story about the birth of the roadtrain, and one of Australia's great bush innovators.

• Angels don't go droving

  Dick Scobie/Jim Ditchfield, 2003, Central Queensland University Press, Rockhampton (Qld). A good read about a drover's life.

• Battlers of the Barkly

  Alf Chambers, 1998, Central Queensland University Press, Rockhampton (Qld). Interesting story about a family making a good go of it surrounded by large company places on the Barkly Tableland in the Northern Territory.

• Beyond the big run

  Charlie Schultz/Darrell Lewis, 1995, University of Queensland Press, Brisbane (Qld).

• Big mobs

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

• Bulldust and dreams

  Troy Dann, 1999, Bantam, Transworld/Random House. An account that mentions the stuff-ups as well as the triumphs. An inspiring story of someone who just keeps plugging away despite the knockers and the setbacks, that shows what dreaming big dreams and putting the hard yards in can achieve.

• Bull from the Bush

  Bob Flatt, 1998, New Holland Press (Sydney). Paints a vivid picture of life as a jackaroo in north-west Queensland in the 1950s. Funny, sad, thoughtful. When I read about them lifting the bore casing and the storm up stream of the river they had to cross to get home, I laughed so much my husband, who was trying to sleep, got very cranky.

• Chasing last light — Aerial mustering 1968-1978

  Pearl Ogden, 2000, Darwin (Northern Territory) (self published). These stories only got into print because the blokes concerned have retired, or died — there is no way they'd have been published if they were still flying. Very well written, full of people who typify what it is to be an Australian character — independent, capable, practical, hardworking, don't think twice about bending the rules if it suits, and with a great sense of humour — usually very dry. 'Chasing last light' not only records a very interesting but little known field of northern Australian history, and gives a good understanding of how big mobs are mustered, it is full of fabulous quotes and funny stories from mustering pilots who have become legends in their field. If you buy one book on the way it used to be done in the Territory, make it this one, because it really is one of the very best around — it's a great read.

• Children in the sun

  Marion Nixon, 1995, Perth (Western Australia) (self published). I found this a hauntingly evocative story that left an indelible impression of bringing up children in an exceedingly remote and beautiful part of the northwest Kimberleys, a region I feel fortunate to have visited. It is one of the most memorable books I have ever read, it really touched a chord with me. I just cannot imagine how it felt to leave their paradise, it made me want time to stand still.

• Chook on Sundays

  Trish Ainslie & Roger Garwood, 1992, Plantagenet Press, Freemantle (Western Australia). Full of characters, beautifully told and excellent photographs. First class quality.

• Failure of Triumph — the story of Connellan Airways

  E.J. Connellan, 1992, Paradigm Investments, Alice Springs (Northern Territory). A very poignant story about an aviator who did great things for people living in the Northern Territory. E.J. Connellan has passed on but his Connellan Airways Trust continues to benefit Australians living in remote areas. A detailed read but highly recommended, especially to anyone interested in Northern Territory history. A real pioneer who helped make it the place it is today.

• From the lime bluffs

  Doreen McGrath, 1981, Petford (Queensland) (self published). Doreen's story gives an insight into how easy it is today when times are tough, compared to the years when she was growing up. She's a real can-do character.

• Hell, west and crooked & Tom's other books

  Tom Cole, 1988, Angus & Robertson/Collins, Sydney (Australia). Tom famously hauled his story before a number of publishers who all knocked it back. The publisher who took it on landed a best seller that was reprinted many times. This is a great read and it's hard to fathom why any publisher in their right mind would send it away. They must be completely out of touch with what the public want to read.
  
  Tom went on to publish other books that are very interesting also. This is a classic case of 'don't get mad get even'. I hope the publishers who knocked him back learnt all about how popular his writing was. Thank goodness someone took it on, it would have been a tragedy if it remained unpublished.

• Land of Waltzing Matilda

  Peter Knowles, 1994, Boolarong Press, Brisbane (Queensland). Published 25 years after his first book (Whirlwind Country), more great photographs showing the changes in seasons and natural bush.

• Lipstick, swag and sweatrag

  Beth Beckett, 1998, Central Queensland University Press, Rockhampton (Queensland). A well told account of Beth's years as a padre's wife, travelling around the remote Kimberley region.

• Managing the Channel Country sustainably — producers' experiences

  Vince Edmondston, Queensland DPI, 2001, 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.

• North and aloft

  Dr Timothy O'Leary, 1988, Amphion Press University of Queensland, Brisbane (Queensland). I laughed until the tears poured out while reading about the beef drop, something I'll never forget.

• Nothing prepared me

  Edna Eckford Quilty, 1999, Caloundra (Queensland) (self published). Refreshingly honest account of Edna and Tom Quilty's life on Bedford Downs and Springvale in the Northern Territory. Very interesting read and relatively recent history — highly recommended.

• Packhorse drover (and other books)

  Bruce Simpson, 1996, ABC books, Sydney (NSW). A very well told yarn about Bruce's years as a drover. Bruce has produced other books too as he is a great poet (there are a lot of people around singing his words) and has an interest in explorers such as Ludwig Leichardt.

• Pieces of Blue

  Kerry McGinnis, 1999, Penguin Books, Melbourne (Victoria). Kerry had a very tough trot growing up and her story is beautifully written, covering childhood up until they settled on their Gulf cattle station. Her book has done deservedly well.

• Pioneers of the Kimberley — the Maggie Lilly Story

  Anne Marie Ingham (Maggie Lilly), 2000, Halstead Press, Sydney (NSW). A great yarn about surviving tough times in the Wyndham area of the Kimberleys.

• Outback Women

  Melissa McCord, 1986, Doubleday, Sydney (NSW). Beautifully photographed.

• Red Dust Rising — the story of Ray Fryer of Urapunga

  Marion Houldsworth (Ray Fryer), 2004, CQU Press, Rockhampton (Qld). Interesting, serious and funny account of Ray building up a station on the Roper River. And I could just see the AAT Kings bus pull up, 'not a good time now mate'! Would be good compulsory secondary school reading.

• See you at sundown

  Ted and Margaret Flamsteed, 1997, Brisbane (Queensland) (self published). Another interesting story of remote station life. The station employees standing the garden trees upright again after being flattened by a cyclone built an image that has stayed with me.

• Sitdown up North

  Ted Egan, 1997, Kerr Publishing, Sydney (NSW). Another great book by Ted, I don't know how he can write so well on top of all the other things he does well.

• S'pose I die

  Hector Holthouse (Evelyn Maunsell), 1973, Angus & Robertson, Sydney (NSW). About Evelyn's arrival in Cairns from England, and her life on Mount Mulgrave and Wrotham Park stations west of Chillagoe (at the bottom of Cape York/top of the Gulf, in Queensland). This book is an excellent reminder of how relatively recent European settlement is in northern Australia. In the north we're only a couple of generations away from the original pioneers. The book could easily have been twice as long, it's a great read. Has been reprinted many times.

• The Boss Drover and his Mates

  Anne Marie Ingham (Clarry Pankhurst), 1996, Halstead Press Publishers, Sydney (New South Wales). Really interesting account of Clarry's years as a drover based in Camooweal. Sadly he died several years ago however his wife Emily still travels about — it was great to have her at my book launch.

• The Paperboy's War

  Ted Egan, 1993, Kerr Publishing, Sydney (NSW). Ted writes like he is in real life — funny, serious, straight to the point and a real character. Really cares about other people and goes out of his way to help them. Other books highly recommended also.

• The Whirlwind Country

  Peter Knowles, 1969, Paul Hamlyn P/L, Sydney (NSW). Peter's first book of interesting photos, painting a picture of a harsh part of Australia. Peter was born and bred on a station south of Winton, before moving into town then Brisbane. He was awarded the very well deserved title of 'Australian Wildlife Photographer of the Year' in 1997. His images have the empathy only obtainable by living the life and observing nature through many years of differing seasons.

• 'Til She Dropped her Strides

  Trish Ainslie & Roger Garwood, 1991, Plantagenet Press, Freemantle (Western Australia). Full of characters, beautifully told and excellent photographs.

• Wind on the cattle

  Merice Briffa (Pic Willetts), 2002, self published (printed by Auscribe Enterprises, Oxley, Qld). A very interesting read.

• 101 Adventures that got me absolutely nowhere

  Phil O'Brien, 2005, ABC books (Sydney). If you don't like swearing don't buy this. But if you like a great laugh, this will have tears rolling down your face. I nearly split my sides when I read his description of his (very short) career as a waiter in Melbourne — I've had the odd feed in some of those places, and could picture it perfectly. It is refreshingly honest, very sharp.

Australian Outback Books Especially For Kids:

No wonder Australian language is losing its character — 99.9% of the children's books being sold in Australia use American and English words and expressions. I cringe every time I see 'cowboy' instead of 'stockman', 'chicken coop' instead of 'chook shed', and 'meadow' instead of 'paddock'. I 'Australianise' books when reading them aloud to kids and suggest others do likewise. When they're old enough to understand it's a good opportunity to explain the differences in terminology between countries, and why it's important that we use our own words rather than imports. More information on our uniquely Australian words and expressions can be found in the Translation pages of the website.

The following books are first-class quality and are uniquely Australian:

• Outback Alphabet and Outback Count Out

  Nora Kersh, 1999, Maxwelton (North Queensland) (self published).

• Grandma's precious chest

  Nora Kersh, 2005, Maxwelton (North Queensland) (Boolarong Press). Completely authentic books full of character that have been written and illustrated by a grandmother who has spent decades living in remote areas and educated all her own children by correspondence.

• Bevan's shearing team at Beeantha Kate, the Flying Doctor James, the outback postman Samantha at Helen Downs

  Judy and Darryl Cooper, 1995, Holding Educational Aids, Marayong (NSW). Simple and effective books that do a very good job of explaining some aspects of life in western Queensland.

• Farm book (an Australian board book)

  Photographs by Bill Thomas, 1992, Lothian. An excellent first-wood book for toddlers, to teach them words like 'ute' instead of 'pickup truck'.

• Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, and other May Gibbs books

  May Gibbs 1877 - 1969. Unique stories and illustrations that are full of Australian plants & animals. I prefer the original books that show the simple beauty of May's line drawings and unaltered writing, rather than the 'modernised' versions with glossy colours and 'updated' text. Read the original books to the kids and let them play with the more recently published versions.
  
  'Nutcote' is the name of May's Sydney home that was rescued from demolition and restored. The Nutcote website is worth a visit.

• The Billabong series of books

  Mary Grant Bruce 1878 - 1958. Some people would find these a bit dated, especially some of the attitudes. But I found them a great read and source of inspiration. It's quite likely that they motivated me to move further out into the sticks. Look for the original books in secondhand bookshops and online. Mary Grant Bruce had a very impressive writing career and a summary can be found on the Australian Women's Archives Project website.

Practical Rural Recipe Books:

Country Women's Association (CWA) books are the most practical cookbooks that I own. They have recipes for such things as eggless cakes — essential when it's your son's birthday, the road is impassable and it's so humid that the chooks stopped laying three weeks earlier (and the humidity made the fridge freeze the eggs you had stored). These practical books don't rely on weird ingredients that are impossible to obtain unless you have a gourmet deli just around the corner. You can add extra ingredients to these basic fool-proof recipes if you want a fancier result.

I have a CWA of Western Australia cookbook published by A & R and it is excellent.

When CWA members sit around eating the results of their labours and doing embroidery they are discussing government policies and serious social issues. The CWA is the largest women's organisation in Australia and raises a huge amount of money for a variety of worthy causes. Many people can't get their heads around this combination, consequently the CWA is consistently underestimated. See the national CWA website for more information, including links to state organisations.

Bookshops That Sell Australian and Outback Books

Whenever possible, buy self-published books direct from the author. You can probably get the book personally signed, and you'll be putting more money in the pocket of the person who has done all the work and taken the risk — so they might be able to afford to publish again.

Generally speaking independent bookshops will make a greater effort than franchises to order books in especially for customers, and they are more likely to support self-published books by local authors.

If your local bookshop doesn't have what you want, nag them into ordering it for you, if it is still in print. If you are going to vote with your feet let them know why. Unless customers tell bookchains they are not happy with the mass of imported books flooding our bookshop shelves, to the detriment of locally produced books, booksellers will continue to give us more of the same (and wonder why book sales are falling).

The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame (Longreach, Qld) and the Waltzing Matilda Centre (Winton, Qld) stock a good range of rural books. Hesperian Press (Western Australia) is a great source of re-published classic Australiana as well as new outback books. The Rural Bookshop is a good source of practical farming and grazing reference books.

Many books go out of print quickly, so if you see something you like don't hesitate — it might not be on the shelf when you return. Self published books often have low print runs and may be difficult to obtain anywhere. Some may be available direct from the authors or they may be found in secondhand bookshops — either on the street or online.