Australiana

Theodore Thomson Flynn – Not Just Errol’s Father – Tony and Viki Harrison.

A scare book likely because of its effectively self published nature.

Octavo, soft cover, perfect bound, 238 pages, illustrated, a pretty good production and a nice copy. Published at Hobart in 2013.

Local know of the early years of Hollywood legend, adventurer, boozer and womanizer Errol Flynn. The hospital where he was born is just around the corner from chez Voyager.

The Harrison’s have produced this thorough, well researched book on Errol Flynn’s father. Theodore was Professor at the University of Tasmania by the age of 28 and became a leading authority on marsupials. He moved to Northern Ireland and held similar academic positions, also receiving an MBE for WWII efforts. Later he managed Errol’s estates in Jamaica and held academic positions at the University of California.

Errol Flynn’s Father – a story of his Own.

$30.00

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Triumph in the Tropics (Queensland) – Cilento and Lack – 1959

This substantial book was produced for the Centenary Celebrations of Queensland published 1959 effectively by the Historical Committee of the State Government. It is free from government style and influence and jam packed with facts in a naturally chronological order.

Thick octavo, 446 pages plus index. Illustrated throughout, including charts, coloured frontispiece of the Cooktown Orchid (quite beautiful but we find a slightly strange choice). Facsimile signatures on endpapers and a pretty good example of the decorative period dust jacket. Very clean.

Starts with very early explorers (the reference to first nation people comes later) .. Cook, Flinders, Oxley, Convict establishments, foray into the interior, self Government. Then the development of the “Modern Queensland” … pastoral, maritime and mining (more about Mount Morgan).

It is the depth of information that impresses us most about this book, whilst the content concerning aboriginal people would not meet today’s standards, it is hard to find a book anywhere that addresses progress in Queensland better than this account. Not surprising given the authors [note their humble reference to mere editors] Cilento and Lack.

A Triumph it is … Queensland!

$50.00

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Richard Siddins of Port Jackson [Australian Maritime History] – Lyndon Rose.

Published by Roebuck in 1984 a nice production, larger format, 152 pages, Illustrated, end paper maps. A very good copy.

Richard Siddins was a merchant sea captain who sailed out of Port Jackson from 1804 to 1822. He operated sealing expeditions to the Antarctic Oceans; gathered sandalwood; carried cargo to India and China. Within all this he experienced more adventure seeking gold from a wrecked privateer; taking care at a cannibal feast; chased by Tongan war canoes; wrecked off Macquarie Island … it was all in a day’s work for Captain Siddins.

Hinted above amongst all this was an important early voyage to the South Shetland Islands.

Early Australian Maritime History.

$35.00

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Historic Stanley [North West Tasmania] – From Original Sketches by Marquerite Close – Signed by the author and artist.

Well for those that have not been there, Stanley with its impossible to miss “Nut” is one of the most picturesque places you are likely to come across. And, steeped in history being a very early settlement associated with Australia’s first major corporation the Van Diemen’s Land Co.

Soft cover, landscape, 68 pages with a page of narrative followed by a sketch throughout. A super reference and keepsake for any Stanley lover.

Beautiful historic Stanley and Artist’s record.

$30.00

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Governor’s Ladies [The Wives and Mistresses of Van Diemen’s Land Governors] – Alison Alexander.

An interesting and enlightening book published as a quality book by the Tasmanian Historical Research Association in 1987.

Tall octavo, 188 pages, produced by Dan Sprod’s Blubber Press. Illustrated with images from early photographs, maps, colour frontispiece of the Old Government House. An excellent copy bar previous name tipped out on a free end paper.

The official and unofficial companions include … Martha Hayes, Maria Lord, Mary Geils, Margaret Davey, Lady Franklin [of course], Caroline Denison and many more. Well researched and written, a book about strong women and their role up front and behind the scenes.

Governor’s got the glory – but what about the women alongside them.

$50.00

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Joseph Mason – assigned Convict 1831-1837 – Edited by Kent and Townsend.

Published by the Melbourne University Press, a fine copy of the first edition 1996. Octavo, 182 pages with end paper maps. Gift inscription on half title otherwise clean as a whistle.

Joseph Mason was transported to New South Wales, one of many who protested against the mechanisation of agriculture … threshing machines.

The large part of this book is his Memoir of goings on a wonderful insight into the Colony … referencing encounters with aboriginal people and good descriptions of convict “assignments” around Sydney, Parramatta and Campbelltown and explorations along the Nepean River.

Good introductory chapters with contributions from David Kent as well as the industrious editors.

One of the more thorough and thoughtful convict accounts

$20.00

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Theodore Thomson Flynn – Not Just Errol’s Father – Tony and Viki Harrison.

Triumph in the Tropics (Queensland) – Cilento and Lack – 1959

Richard Siddins of Port Jackson [Australian Maritime History] – Lyndon Rose.

Historic Stanley [North West Tasmania] – From Original Sketches by Marquerite Close – Signed by the author and artist.

Governor’s Ladies [The Wives and Mistresses of Van Diemen’s Land Governors] – Alison Alexander.

Joseph Mason – assigned Convict 1831-1837 – Edited by Kent and Townsend.

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