Hesperian Press

A Clouded Vision

The Life of Andrew Barr: pioneer - inventor

1855 - 1939.

by Hugh Clift

ISBN 085905 320 2, (2003 new), 130 pp, A4 wire bound, illustrated, 375grams

$30.00* + POST

Andrew Barr was born in Scotland, the eldest of 14 children. The family immigrated to South Australia in 1874, where Andrew married Rosetta Gilbert in 1877.

He became a prosperous farmer and invented a "jumping scarifier" which took many prizes at agricultural shows and was widely used in South Australia. He also invented a stump jump cultivator in 1880, which won first prize in a competition in 1880. His greatest invention was the world's first disc plough, which he first used in 1885. He improved the prototype disc plough to the point where he was able to sign a contract for its manufacture in 1892, but before any disc ploughs could be built, the firm became bankrupt in Australia's worst economic depression, which had already forced Andrew off his farm. He became an agricultural labourer and in 1897 decided to try his luck in Western Australia.

A Dead Mans Dream

Lasseter’s Reef Found

by Angie Testa and Bill Decarli

ISBN 0 85905 356 3, (2005 new), soft cover, 104 pp, illustrated, 145 grams

$22.00 + POST

Ever since Harold Lasseter died in 1931 in his pursuit of his infamous gold-bearing quartz reef, the location of this reef has remained a tantalising mystery. Over the years expeditions have combed the West of Alice Springs, finding no trace of it. While some claim it to be one of the great confidence tricks of the day, others steadfastly believe the legend. In 1991 Vietnam veteran Bill Decarli decided to reverse Lasseter’s map and look on the Eastern side of Alice Springs. He found the landmarks matching those described in Lasseter’s diary and a gold bearing quartz reef many kilometers long. This is his story.

A Gold Seeker’s Odyssey

by L R Menzies

ISBN 0 85905 290 7, (2004 reprint of 1937 edition with new material), soft cover, 171pp, 235 grams

$28.00 + POST

Leslie Menzies was one of the hopeful band of prospectors who arrived in Western Australia during the 1890s goldrush.

A successful miner in the USA & NZ his knowledge gave him an early advantage at Parkers Range & the Murchison. The Menzies mines were discovered by him in 1894.

In the ups & downs of mining Menzies found that down was almost out, Greener fields in Madagascar, Africa, Japan and later the Kimberley beckoned. He eventually retired to California where he wrote these reminiscences shortly before his death in 1939.

A Good Prospect - The life and works of F.W. Ophel "Prospect Good."

Compiled and edited by Chris Holyday.

ISBN 978-0-85905-513-0, (New, 2012), A4, illustrated, 72pp, 225grams
$25.00* + POST

Frederick Ophel (1871- 1911) was considered the best and brightest of the Goldfields poets a century ago. However his work has never been published as a collection. A.G. Stephens of the Bulletin collected his works and letters but twice lost the papers and eventually economics signed the death knell.

A History of the 2^nd Independent Company

and

2/2 Commando Squadron

compiled by Col Doig

ISBN 0 85905 149 8, (1986, reprinted 2009), illustrated, A4, Soft Cover, 294 pages, 785 grams

$50.00* + POST

This is the story of the Double Red Diamonds who fought the Japanese in Timor, inflicting casualties far in excess of their number, and showing the usefulness of guerrilla forces against a numerically superior enemy.

A Story of Swan Location 16

 by W.J. de Burgh

ISBN 978-0-85905-459-1, (2008), Soft Cover, A4, 50 pp, illustrated, 170 grams

$22.00* + POST

The history of the colonial land locations of Swan 16 (Woodbridge and Bushmead), Swan M1 (Caversham), 16A, and Helena 7 (Waterhall), and Cowalla; and the involvement of the deBurgh, Brockman, Harper, Morrison, Welliton, Phillips, and Whitfield families.

A Story of the Cowalla Coast Run

1873 - 1964

by W. J. deBurgh

ISBN 0 85905 380 6, (2007 New), soft cover, 46pp, illustrated, 80 grams

$12.00 + POST

Order direct from Hesperian Press

Born in 1912, WJ (Bill) de Burgh spent all his working life on his family's two Moore River properties, Cowalla and Baramba. Since 1976, Bill has dedicated his retirement years to the research and recording of Western Australian history, for which, together with his many years of service to local government, he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australiain 2007.

From 1873 to 1964, a period of 91 years, the de Burgh family's holdings included a cattle run of several thousand acres between, and including, where the coastal towns of Ledge Point and Lancelin are now situated. This former cattle run, now proposed for a residential development by the present owner, forms the subject of this book.

A Thousand Miles and More

– a tramp through the Coolgardie Goldfields

by Duke Stewart

ISBN 0 85905 427 6, (2008 Reprint 1896), Soft Cover, 54pp, 95 grams

$15.00*. + POST

In 1896 Duke Stewart set out to report on the conditions of the new Coolgardie goldfields. By walking he absorbed the reality of the bush, meeting the prospectors and sharing their camps.

A Twentieth Century Shepherd

The Letters of EHB Lefroy

selected by Richard Lefroy

ISBN 978-0-85905-517-8, (2012), illustrated, 320pp, 900gms

$25.00 + POST

Please do not order from Hesperian Press available from author only

Available from Dr RB Lefroy 5 Edwyna St Mosman Park W Aus 6012

email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The letters from and to Ted Lefroy contain a description of the development of Cranmore Park, a recent acquisition of virgin land for farming at the beginning of the twentieth century, and the associated problems encountered. The development of a large Merino stud was a particular feature.

A Varied and Versatile Life

The Memoirs of Frank Wittenoon

1855 - 1939

Edited and annotated by R.F.B. Lefroy

ISBN 085905 317 2, (2003 upgraded reprint), 110 pp,  A4 wire bound, illustrated, 325 grams

$30.00* + POST

Frank Wittenoom was a grandson of the first Colonial Chaplin who arrived off Fremantle with his family on 30th January 1830.

He was born on the family farm near York in December 1855 and died in Perth in September 1939.

Following his mothers death in 1861 the family moved to Perth where he was educated and worked for the West Australian Bank.

A Voyage of No Importance

by Rod Dickson

ISBN 085905 298 2, (2003 new), 125 pages, limp cover, section sewn, illustrated, 180 grams

$22.00 + POST

This is the true story of an epic 350 kilometre voyage along the West Kimberley coast made by two intrepid seafarers in their 3.5 metre wooden dinghy in late 1920.

The pearling lugger, HENRY, on a voyage from Wyndham to Broome was wrecked on a jagged rock off Cape Voltaire in the far northwest. The six crewmen on board made it to the mainland and set up camp. It was then decided that two men should row the dinghy south to get help but nobody expected the voyage to last a month and cover such a vast distance.

This one small lugger, the HENRY became involved in three separate incidents in which five white men lost their lives, four to the natives on the red coast and one to a crocodile.

The dinghy voyage from Cape Voltaire to Cape Leveque was likened to that of Bass and Flinders in a letter describing the voyage, written by Reverend Richardson, of Broome, to the editor of The West Australian. However, the editor wrote back and described the voyage as of no importance.