Lure of the North
by F. W. Gunning
ISBN 0 85905 396 2, (2007, reprint), Hard Cover, dj, 272pp, illustrated, 720grams
$75.00* + POST Order direct from Hesperian Press
Long out of print and reaching $600 plus as a rare book, it has been reprinted courtesy of the Gunning and Gooch families. This new facsimile, limited edition, is case bound with a dust jacket.
Lure of the North is the story of George Gooch and the opening up of the Gascoyne.
Nothing but dauntless courage enabled George Gooch to meet the constant menace of hostile natives. Hundreds of miles lay between him and Champion Bay, the nearest northern outpost of civilisation, every yard of which must be trodden by the foot of man or the hoof of a horse. In the event of sickness or accident his chance of assistance was small. Going out into the unknown is easy to read about, but the immensely hazardous and predominantly difficult nature of the enterprise of opening up the North-West made such stern demands for strength of purpose and grim endurance, that it has matched the best exploits and epic deeds of our race.
This book is not only the story of an individual but a study of the foundation and development of the Gascoyne area of Western Australia during the life of George Joseph Gooch, of Wandagee.
George Gooch's life achieved something more than sheep-raising, station development, or public service, great though the value of these were. His life is an instance of one man's experience as to what can be done with his own personality and those of other men. He was a great servant of humanity and the need for such is in direct ratio to the difficulty of the task that awaits Australia both in its material and spiritual problems. We still need the pioneer spirit.
The Rev. Frederick William Gunning, (1885 - 1964) arrived in Western Australia from England in 1907. Being ordained in 1909 he became the Rector of Moora and later the Rector of Fremantle and of Mt Hawthorn, retiring in 1947.
For over twenty five years he set down in The West Australian the lives of men who he knew personally, or by reputation, that had made their mark on nineteenth century Western Australia. His work has continued to influence historians and historical biographers into the 21st century.