Books on the History of the Western Australian Goldfields

Hundreds of books have been written on the Western Australian Goldfields. From reference books to fiction and most of all the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the quest for gold and the search for adventure. There are also many biographies and history books some on the broader subject of the history of the region and others on a specific subject or town. Outback Family History would like to review some of these that you may not have heard of and to tell you where they can be purchased if you would like your own copy. We also have a monthly book giveaway!

The Lady Bushranger – Jessie Hickman

The Lady Bushranger: Remembering Australia’s Forgotten Female Outlaw Bushrangers have claimed their place in history as the Robin Hoods of Australia’s colonial past. Unless they were women, then they have no place in history at all. Meet Jessie Hickman, the country’s most formidable and forgotten female outlaw! She had five aliases and she ran a […]

Asbestos in Australia: book review

Asbestos in Australia presents for the first time a multi-dimensional view of Australia’s asbestos story featuring contributions from experts in the disciplines of history, journalism, medicine, law and public health. It also includes first-hand accounts of those whose lives have been touched by the mineral, as workers, asbestos disease sufferers, and lawyers and campaigners directly engaged […]

The Forgotten Conservationist – book review

George Brockway was Western Australia’s first WA-born professional forester, beginning his career at Mundaring Weir in 1922. There he pioneered the bushfire management system for forests that was eventually applied nationally. Moving to Kalgoorlie he became WA’s first “inland forester” and over many years worked tirelessly to conserve the inland woodlands and to promote trees […]

Book Review – Pipe Dream to Pipeline

Pipe-Dream to Pipeline, The Eventful Life of Nathaniel W Harper by Stan Gervas Many of you will know of the story of the water pipeline which came to the Goldfields bringing fresh water and permanent prosperity and the roll played in the scheme by C Y O’Connor. Many of you will not however know of […]

A Lost Glitter – book review

A Lost glitter : letters between South Australia and the Western Australian goldfields, 1895-1897 –   edited by Michael R. Best. A Lost Glitter is the most richly detailed first-hand account of goldfields’ life we have: The letters of the Deland family between the Western Australian goldfields and Gawler contrast the rumbustious, economically chancy, life of […]