PLEASE NOTE: Any book title starting with "The" - the second word of the title is used to list by.

All prices quoted are in Australian currency and include GST.
* Short trade discount.

java_rabbleJava Rabble 

a story of a ship, slavery and survival

by Fred Skeels OAM

ISBN 978-0-85905-419-5, (2008 new),158 pages, 160 x 240, Soft Cover, illustrated, 280grams

$30.00 + POST

Available only from the author. Please contact Fred Skeels 08 92460152.


Fred was on HMAS Perth when it was sunk in the Battle of Sunda Straits in March, 1942.

This is the story of a young sailor, joining in 1941 at 18. A year later he and his mates were in the great battles of the Java Sea and Sunda Straits in which the Perth and its allies were sunk.

Read more: Java Rabble 

john_dunn_coverJohn Dunn and the Wealth of Nations

by Peter Bridge, Ian Murray, Maureen Cause

ISBN 978-0-85905-061-6, (2010 new), A4, 64pp, 210grams

$22.00* + POST


In 1894 John Dunn discovered the Wealth of Nations Gold Mine at Dunnsville, NE of Coolgardie.

It’s richness stunned the world and prospectors and investors were attracted to this new area.

This collection details the history of the mine and that of the Dunn Brothers.

lefroy_coverThe Journal of Gerald De Courcy Lefroy 

edited and annotated by Bruce and Anne Buchanan

ISBN 978-0-85905-468-3, (2010), casebound, 361pp, 1kg

$80.00* + POST


This is probably the most readable of all the extant colonial journals. It covers the 1840s and early 1850s, with an outline of De Courcy’s life to the 1870s.

The Irish Lefroys and their English cousins were important figures in the colony.

In Ireland De Courcey’s uncle, Thomas Lefroy, became the Chief Justice of Ireland, and as an intriguing side note, the character ‘Darcy’ in Jane Austen’s novel, Jane Eyre, is based on him. [google Who was the Real Tom Lefroy.’] 

Links to webpages

http://www.irishidentity.com/extras/gaels/stories/lefroy.htm

http://www.janeausten.co.uk/magazine/page.ihtml?pid=489&step=4

brockman_coverThe Journal of the Brockman Droving Expedition of 1874-75 to the North of Western Australia

Edited by Nan Broad with Peter Bridge

ISBN 0 85905 366 0, (2006 New), Hard Cover, Dust Jacket, 177pp, illustrated, 475 grams

$60.00* + POST


The story of one of the greatest early stock droves in Australia.

In 1874 John Brockman answered the call to assist the Clarkson droving party, stranded on the Murchison River in drought conditions.

Read more: Journal of the Brockman Droving Expedition

journal_of_the_calvert_expeThe Journal of the Calvert Scientific Exploring Expedition 1896-7

by L.A. Wells

ISBN 0 85905 184 6, (Facsimile 1993 reprint of 1902 edition), Soft Cover, quarto, 62pp, illustrated, map, 250grams

$35.00 + POST


The journal of the fateful expedition on which two men disappeared. Details of Larry Wells’ unsuccessful search for the men who where later found dead from thirst.

journals_of_australian_explJournals of Australian Exploration 1846-1861

by A.C. and F.T. Gregory

ISBN 0 85905 258 3, (2002 reprint of 1884 edition with 20% larger text), Soft Cover, illustrated, 340grams

$35.00 + POST

Set of four maps to accompany the above publication: $22.00 + POST


Journals of nine expeditions from 1846 to 1861.

The classic volume of exploration in Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland.

From the Preface of the 1884 Edition

judex_coverJudex – Judging the Field

by Fred Casey (edited by Peter Bridge with Celene Bridge)

ISBN 0 85905 421 7, (2007 new), Soft cover, A4, 37pp, saddle, 150grams

$20.00* + POST


Fred was the surveyor of the Kalgoorlie Council and a prospector who died on the dumps, chasing the wily weight. He was the first historian of early Kalgoorlie.