Non-fiction

Islands of South-West Tasmania – Gary White

A very helpful book by the thorough Gary White. Not much else is written about the islands of the South West of Tasmania and this fills the gap.

Published by the author in 1980. Softcover, 63 pages and more content than the pages suggest. Some images from photographs .. the islands from a distance quite worthwhile.

In case you are unfamiliar covers .. De Witt island; Maatsuyker .. where you can still put your hand up to be Lighthouse Keeper; Flat (Mutton Bird) Island; Louisa; Fiat Witch and other lesser ones as a group.

South of Tasmania there are some cold islands but they are special.

$30.00

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Burrunguy – Nourlangie Rock [Kakadu] – George Chaloupka

The striking natural features of the Burrunguy, also known as Norlangie, in the Northern Territory Kakadu National Park are World Heritage listed. The ancient rock forms are surrounded by a massive network of crevices and gorges containing a wide range of geology, flora and fauna.

Also at Burrunguy are many quite curious and relatively recent (20th century) aboriginal rock painting depicting stories of the people and their history.

Published by North Art in 1984. Small quarto, 40 pages intensely illustrated with images from colour photographs many of the unusual rock painting. End paper maps.

Hidden Kakadu treasures.

$30.00

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Radio-Activity. An Elementary Treatise, from the Standpoint of the Disintegration Theory – Frederick Soddy M.A. – First Edition 1904

An important work in the history of science. Explaining all of the then known facts by the theory of radio-activity and the explosive disintegration of elementary atoms.

Voyager scientific hero Frederick Soddy (1877-1956) was to win the Nobel Prize in 1921… “for his contributions to our knowledge of the chemistry of radioactive substances, and his investigations into the origin and nature of isotopes”.

Published by “the Electrician” Printing and Publishing Co, London in 1904.

Octavo, brown cloth covered boards with gilt lettering on front and spine. Xi, 214 pages; 40 illustrations, diagrams and charts; publishers catalogue. Some age but a worthy copy of an important and scarce work.

Soddy in conjunction with Rutherford developed the disintegration theory of radioactivity from experiments conducted between 1901-1903.

Following this work Soddy lectured in physical chemistry and radioactivity at Glasgow University. By 1913 his theory of disintegration had been further developed and the concept of isotopes developed … i.e. that certain elements exist in two forms which have different atomic weights. He became Professor of Chemistry at Aberdeen in 1914 and after WWI went to Oxford where he stayed until retirement in 1937.

Important work Soddy on Radio-Activity – early days.

$180.00

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Cook’s Final Voyage – The Journal of Midshipman George Gilbert – Introduced by Christine Holmes.

Published by Brian Clouston, Caliban Books in 1982, a first edition in this form. Also published in Hawaii.

Large octavo, 158 pages, nicely illustrated. A near fine copy.

Yet another source of exceptional information on the third, final and fateful voyage of James Cook. Due to James Cook’s discipline the Midshipman on his voyages kept impeccable journals. With a focus on the Central Pacific and up into the Arctic searching for the North-West Passage from the other side.

The Third Voyage through Gilbert’s Eyes

$40.00

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The Henty Journals – A Record of Farming, Whaling and Shipping in Portland Bay, 1834-1839. – Lynnette Peel

A super copy of this first edition well produced book published by The Miegunyah Press in 1966.

Large octavo, 297 pages, nicely illustrated. A fine copy and as always with the Miegunyah Press nothing spared, printed on Pageantry Text Creme paper, limited to a thousand copies.

The Henty family left Sussex in England in the 1820’s to make their life in Australia. With farms first in Western Australia and Tasmania they settled at Portland Bay in Victoria. Edward Henty is recognised as the first permanent settler in Victoria. Diaries written by Edward and his brother Francis are a prized possession of the State Library of Victoria. They form the basis of this book. Brother Thomas settled at Launceston in Tasmania and bred Marino sheep often selling to the Macarthurs of Camden. Not restricting their activities to the land they undertook maritime and whaling adventures and sadly had a hand in reducing the population of the Southern Right Whale.

The Diaries of the brothers Henty – a genuine glimpse into life in the early 19thC.

$80.00

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The Early Water Supply of Hobart – 1804-1904 – Crawford and Ryan

A special production by Crawford and Ryan assisted by the Institute of Engineers in Australia.

Published in 1988, perfect bound, large octavo in size, 66 pages, nicely illustrated throughout.

If you have walked to the “Springs” above Hobart in Mount wellington you will love this informative book. If you haven’t walked the track then you should its beautiful … and one of the easiest walks on the hill.

The illustrations are something special, maps, charts, engineering diagrams often from first hand sketches.

The early water of Hobart – its still in demand – save it if you can.

$30.00

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Islands of South-West Tasmania – Gary White

Burrunguy – Nourlangie Rock [Kakadu] – George Chaloupka

Radio-Activity. An Elementary Treatise, from the Standpoint of the Disintegration Theory – Frederick Soddy M.A. – First Edition 1904

Cook’s Final Voyage – The Journal of Midshipman George Gilbert – Introduced by Christine Holmes.

The Henty Journals – A Record of Farming, Whaling and Shipping in Portland Bay, 1834-1839. – Lynnette Peel

The Early Water Supply of Hobart – 1804-1904 – Crawford and Ryan

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