Bushwalk Australia

Hi Guys,

I am looking for books that cover the early years/history of Tasmanian Bushwalking- Whether they be biography or pictorial or editions issued from the walking clubs I don't mind.


Any suggestions ?

There is plenty out there. I think there is a post somewhere on the forum that has a few listed. A few to get you started anyway:

Trampled Wilderness - Ralp and Kath Gowland
Mountain Men - Simon Cubit and Nic Haygarth
Hobart Walking Club Tasmanian Tramp periodicals
Launceston Walking Club Skyline periodicals

I go to Cracked & Spineless bookshop on Collins St to find books. They have a section of Tasmanian books. Heaps to choose from there.

Thanks for the suggestions I did have a quick search of the forum but must have missed it ( I best have another squiz)

I also like Cracked and Spineless in Hobart so will be sure to check in there.

This might be the forum topic referred to (thanks!) viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7835&p=106243&hilit=history+book+tasmania#p102600

' Jack Thwaites ' by Simon Kleinig is an interesting insight into the pioneering days of Tassie bushwalking.

Last time I was in Hobart (3-4 years ago) I picked up a couple of Tasmanian Tramp back issues from one of the bookshops in Salamanca Place.
From memory they had more and some other books as well. Pretty sure it was upstairs. It may have been Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints but not 100% certain.

Do you mean specific bushwalking history only, or also exploration and settlement related to later bushwalking exploits? I have a few books in the latter category by Simon Cubit, Nic Haygarth and others.

Actually that linked topic does list a quite a few interesting books including some I have. Anyway happy to look through what I've got if relevant.

johnw wrote:Last time I was in Hobart (3-4 years ago) I picked up a couple of Tasmanian Tramp back issues from one of the bookshops in Salamanca Place.
From memory they had more and some other books as well. Pretty sure it was upstairs. It may have been Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints but not 100% certain.

Do you mean specific bushwalking history only, or also exploration and settlement related to later bushwalking exploits? I have a few books in the latter category by Simon Cubit, Nic Haygarth and others.

Actually that linked topic does list a quite a few interesting books including some I have. Anyway happy to look through what I've got if relevant.

Both are definitely of interest- I'm trying to compile a bit of a list of titles to investigate

Mechanic-AL wrote:' Jack Thwaites ' by Simon Kleinig is an interesting insight into the pioneering days of Tassie bushwalking.

Looks interesting! Thanks for the suggestion

hutfinder wrote:

johnw wrote:Last time I was in Hobart (3-4 years ago) I picked up a couple of Tasmanian Tramp back issues from one of the bookshops in Salamanca Place.
From memory they had more and some other books as well. Pretty sure it was upstairs. It may have been Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints but not 100% certain.

Do you mean specific bushwalking history only, or also exploration and settlement related to later bushwalking exploits? I have a few books in the latter category by Simon Cubit, Nic Haygarth and others.

Actually that linked topic does list a quite a few interesting books including some I have. Anyway happy to look through what I've got if relevant.

Both are definitely of interest- I'm trying to compile a bit of a list of titles to investigate

Here are the books I can get my hands on right now, without being too analytical about relevance of the content. May be one or two more hiding somewhere around here:

A Man and a Mountain - The Story of Gustav Weindorfer, Margaret Giordano

On the Road to Cradle - Historical Day Walks of Moina, Middlesex and Black Bluff, Nic Haygarth

A View to Cradle - A History of Tasmania's Forth River High Country, Nic Haygarth

Shadow Over Tasmania, Coultman Smith (convicts and bushrangers)

The Tasmanian History of Australian Exploration 1912 Ed., Charles R Long (Part 2 of the book is a short history of Tasmania)

The Gardens of Hell - John Mitchell in Van Diemens Land 1850-1853, Edited by Peter O'Shaughnessy

In the Path of the Roaring Forties - Memories of King Island, Freda Jones and Tom Sullivan

Notes for Franklin River Rafters and Bushwalkers - 5th Ed. Sept. 1982, Fred Duncan and Bob Brown

Tasmania by Road and Track (1953 Ed.?), E.T. Emmett

Isle of Mountains - 2nd Ed. 1946, Charles Barrett

Tasmania Sketchbook - Ist Ed. 1971, Max Angus and Patsy Adam Smith

Historic Richmond (Tasmania) Sketchbook - Ist Ed. 1977, John Alty and Joan Woodberry

The Franklin and Lower Gordon Rivers, a Wilderness Pictorial - 1979 Ed., Bob Brown

The South West Book, a Tasmanian Wilderness - 1978 and 1979 editions, Helen Gee, Janet Fenton and Greg Hodge

The Tasmanian Traveller, a Nineteenth Century Companion for Modern Travellers - 1988 Ed., Hilary Webster

Western Tasmania, a Land of Riches and Beauty - 2003 reprint, Charles Witham

In Tasmania - 2004 Ed., Nicholas Shakespeare

Snarers and Cattlemen of the Mersey High Country (the Lees of Lees Paddocks) - 4th printing 1990, Simon Cubit

johnw wrote:

The South West Book, a Tasmanian Wilderness - 1978 and 1979 editions, Helen Gee, Janet Fenton and Greg Hodge

Love to be able to get my hands on a copy of that.

north-north-west wrote:

johnw wrote:

The South West Book, a Tasmanian Wilderness - 1978 and 1979 editions, Helen Gee, Janet Fenton and Greg Hodge

Love to be able to get my hands on a copy of that.

Is there something specific about that edition (there's at least one available for $60) ? I notice there's plenty of cheaper later copies available.

It's been more a matter of budget/availability clashes. When the cash is there can't find a copy, when there are copies, no money. Such is railway station.

Not sure about the differences in the later editions.

Kevin Doran's book on Federation Peak is worth a read (from memory has a fair bit on the early attempts to reach the summit).

See: http://www.tasmanianbushwalking.com.au/product.php?id_product=50

For those of you who may wish to complete your collection of Launceston Walking Club Skyline magazines by having a copy of the rare and elusive 1950 issue No. 1, then you will be pleased to know that the club has published a facsimile edition on their 70th Birthday on 29th November 2016. All guests at the recent 70th anniversary Dinner in Launceston received a copy and pen, and remaining copies are now for sale from the following bookshops: Petrarch's Bookstore, Launceston; Astrolabe Bookshop, Hobart; and the Book Cellar, Campbell Town. They retail for around $10, and articles include Keith Lancasters story about his solo ascent of Federation Peak complete with his sketch maps. Keith's maps were posted here some time ago. download/file.php?id=18642&mode=view A piece of Tasmanian Bushwalking History!

I was in Petrarch's Bookshop in Launceston the other day and noticed that Simon Cubit has another book out.
From memory, the title is "Mountain Stories" - it may well be germane and also of interest to others.
kind regards,
Ben