Hesperian Press

Three Families Outback

in Australia's Tropical North

by Florence Martin

ISBN 0 85905 364 4, (1980 reprint 2007), Soft Cover, 107 pp, illustrated, 165grams

$22.00 + POST

The story of the families on Carlton Hill, Ningbing, and Legune Stations in the early 1900s.

Throssell’s ‘V.C.”

Captain Donald MacLean AIF

ISBN 978-0-85905-943-5, (R.2022), A4, 17 pages, illustrated. 90 grams, $22.00*

The story of how Hugo Throssell won his VC, by one who was with him.

Through Aurumalia

by A J Vogan

ISBN 978-0-85905-106 4, (1896, R2009), Soft Cover, A4, 72pp, illust, 250grams

$25.00* + POST

Arthur Vogan was a journalist, explorer, photographer, artist. These are his reports on the mines of Kalgoorlie and
the surrounding areas in the mid 1890s.

Through Bush and Scrub

Travels in the North among the Stations

by Norman Malcolm (Canmore)

ISBN 978-0-85905-587-1, (2015, New), A4, 92pp, indexed, 275 grams.

$25.00* + POST

Journalist and returned soldier, Norman Malcolm (d1926), once well known, and whose biography is outlined, wrote of developing pastoral stations of the North. This collection describes the people, districts, travel, and stations, 1923-1926.

Through Spinifex and Sand to the Last Desert Family

by William J. Peasley

ISBN 978-0-85905-590-1, (2015, New), A4, 100pp, well illustrated, indexed, 300 grams.

$30.00*+ POST

Bill Peasley and his associates travelled to the Great Sandy Desert in 1976. They brought into civilisation the last of the ‘wild’ aboriginals who had, because of tribal laws, chosen to live a free life in the desert. This is the story of the expedition, the family, and earlier travels in that area.

Through the Murchisons

The Peak Hill, Murchison, and Yalgoo Fields in 1904

Daisy Bates

ISBN 978-0-85905-720-2, (New, 2018), A4, 19pp, illustrated, 70 grams

$15.00* + POST

Daisy Bates was an intrepid reporter who was well used to tough travelling. She examined many of the Murchison mines in their fledgling days.

Through the Nor’-West on a Side Saddle.

by Daisy M. Bates.

ISBN 978-0-85905-967-1, (R1902, 2022), A4, 38 pages, indexed, 140 grams $25.00*

We found that the version we published several years ago was but an abbreviated description of Daisy Bates’ 1902 droving trip from Broome to the Opthalmia Range. Now the full version is found and published. This is a vibrant record of a major droving foray with the only thing missing being the swear words or their equivalent from dealing with fools and poor facilities. Times change, and while the idiot brigade will decry her choice of terms for the native assistants, their providential and effective help may have started her interest in their life and stories. 

Time of the Brolga

by Jean Bull

978-0-85905-502-4, (2012, New), 150pp, Soft Cover, illust., 365grams

$35.00 + POST

Jean Bull, a prominent Queensland rural journalist, weaves a picture of station life in southwest Queensland in the early 20th century from the perspective of a child growing up in the outback. This is a narrative composed of poignant literary sketches of life on Tiranna station interspersed with interesting anecdotes and socio-historical details. This book records an important epoch of post-World War I station history. The story is written in an eloquent, easy-to-read style where the author portrays the trials and tribulations of station life with a cast of colourful characters who once frequented outback Queensland. The story is a tribute to the pioneering fortitude and achievements of her father George Ernest Bull and her mother Marjorie Bee Finch Bull (nee Brodie) in the establishment of Tiranna and the raising of their two daughters.

To Call Our Own

Pioneering the Group Settlements

by M.R.H. Southcombe

ISBN 0 85905 119 6, (1998 new), Soft Cover, 145mm x 215mm, 87pp, illustrated, 140grams

$22.00 + POST

The pioneering of the Group Settlements, Kalgoorlie in the depression, riots on the goldfields, and timber milling.

To King George the Third Sound for Whales

Transcribed from the original Kingston's logbook

by Rod Dickson

ISBN 0 85905 372 5, (2006 New) Hard cover, dj, 174 pp, 25 x 17cm, illustrated, maps, 480grams

$55.00* + POST (A limited edition of 500 copies)

The log a of a voyage aboard the British whaling vessel Kingston of London under the command of Captain Thomas Dennis, 1800-1802. Transcribed from the original ship’s logbook by Rod Dickson.

This is the first publication in the series of publications complementary to Western Australian Exploration, known as the Historical Records of Western Australia.

To The Bar Bonded

by Kath Mallett

ISBN 0 85905 178 1, 1992 new), Hard Cover, 145mm x 222mm, 330pp, illustrated, 550grams

$40.00 + POST

A fascinating look at this quintessential Western Australian outback town from its beginnings.

Kath Mallett's historical research and memoirs, much of which was literally hand-written on the back of jam tin labels are recorded here as a tribute to the little town she loved.

To the Golden Land. Exploration to the Eastwards 1869-1896

by Peter J. Bridge and associates. With an Introduction by J.M.R Cameron.

ISBN 978-0-85905-704-2, (New, 2019), 160 x 240mm, 712 pp, colour and black and white illustrations, maps, indexed, hard cover, 2kg+, $140.00* + POST

An important contribution to the history of WA covering all that periods 65 expeditions, including many that were previously unknown. Includes for the first time all the colour plates of Forrest in the 1870s. More than 150 illustrations and maps.

Like our other Exploration Diaries this will become the basic reference in this field. Due to the poisoned arrows of our economy the edition is small, so please do not delay ordering. 

To the Savage Land

The life of John Costello

by M.J. Costello

ISBN 0 85905 287 7, (2002 reprint), Soft Cover, 161pp, illustrated, 225gms

$26.00 + POST

In the 1880s John Costello, a pastoralist from Yass who has settled on Coopers Creek, purchased Lake Nash Station. He then opened up the wild country on the Limmen River of the Northern Territory, fighting disease, drought, malaria, hostile natives and cattle thieves. Eventually he lost the battle but never forgot the promise of his savage land.

To Wallal … and Back. The story of a Mullewa Drover.

by Joan Ridley.

ISBN 978-0-85905-772-1, (1999, R 2019), A4, illustrated, indexed, 42 pages, 130 grams, $22.00*

Ned Ridley was well known WA drover. This trip during WWII was blighted by disaster for the sheep, but is a good record of a traditional droving trip.

Tom and Pat

The story of Tom and Pat Fleming, Centralian Pioneers and Missionaries to the Warlpiri People of Australia.

 Ivan Jordan OAM and Ed Kingston.

ISBN 978-0-85905-941-1, (New, 2022), 165 x 240, French flaps cover, 131pages, well illustrated, colour, 350 grams, $35.00.

Tom's Story

An Autobiography

by Thomas Fisher.

ISBN 978-0-85905-519-2, (2012, New), A4, 113pp. illustrated, indexed, 450 grams

$30.00* + POST

When Tom Fisher was growing up on a farm in Western Australia in the 1920's, and during the Depression of the 1930's, he could never have imagined that he would take part in some of the toughest naval battles of World War II. Able Seaman Tom Fisher commenced his war service on 3 September 1939 and, except for a brief period in late 1945, served at sea throughout the war.

Tommy Ningebong

by Phil Bianchi

ISBN 978-0-85905-599-4, (2015, New), A4, 71 pp, illustrated, 190 grms.

$25.00* + POST

Bushman, tracker, drover, stockman, pastoralist, Aboriginal Ningebong was an extraordinary individual. C1904-1978 he spent most of his life in the wider Wiluna area. He was a favourite of the local people and many are the stories of his solidity and of course his little quirks. This biography places on record his life and peoples appreciation of him. He was the principal witness in the trial of the murderers of trapper Joe Wilkins in 1937 and in a rustling trial in the 1970s. He was one of the first Aboriginals to have his own pastoral Lease.

Toodyay

the good old days

by Wally Chitty (edited by Chris Martin)

ISBN 0 85905 342 3, (2004), 248 pages, 240x160mm, 150+ photos, maps, 415grams

$35.00 + POST

A magnificent new book on Toodyay - an anecdotal snapshot of life in times gone by.

Features more than 1000 people.  Illustrated with over 150 photographs. Includes reference maps. Easy to read and of great interest.

The author is a fourth generation member of a well known local pioneering family.

Toodyay Gold

compiled by Peter J Bridge and Angela Teague

ISBN 978-0-85905-443-0, (2008 New), A4, Soft Cover, 62pp, illustrated, 200 grams

$22.00*+ POST

Toodyay, one of the earliest settlements in Western Australia, dating from the 1830s, and the scene of many interesting incidents, showed that after a century of occupation it had more secrets to reveal, when in 1931, early in the first Great Depression, Brown and party discovered payable gold in Yinniding Creek, eight miles south-west of the town. This is an example of resources expanding to fill the needs.

This systematic collection of items in chronological order shows how the finds supported a small community of diggers during the difficult years of high unemployment and minimal incomes.

Toodyay Homesteads

by Rica Erickson and Robyn Taylor

ISBN 0 85905 362 8, (2006 New), Soft Cover, 196 pages, 260grams

$30.00 + POST

Toodyay Homesteads, Past and Present is an invaluable book for anyone interested in Western Australia's rural heritage. It describes the evolution of the Toodyay District and the farming properties that have operated since the 1830s and 1840s. The book takes the reader on a journey from Morby Cottage in Northam to the Berkshire Valley homestead in Moora. Individual chapters reveal the social, administrative, and economic forces that shaped the early development of the Swan River colony, while the homesteads provide insights into the use of local materials, and construction and farming methods up to the present day. Solid archival research by Rica Erickson is given life through her own experiences and early conversations with original settlers and their descendants.