The Aboriginal Story of Burke and Wills: Forgotten Narratives

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The Aboriginal Story of Burke and Wills is the first major study of Aboriginal associations with the Burke and Wills expedition of 186061. A main theme of the book is the contrast between the skills, perceptions and knowledge of the Indigenous people and those of the new arrivals, and the extent to which this affected the outcome of the expedition. The book offers a reinterpretation of the literature surrounding Burke and Wills, using official correspondence, expedition journals and diaries, visual art, and archaeological and linguistic research and then complements this with references to Aboriginal oral histories and social memory. It highlights the interaction of expedition members with Aboriginal people and their subsequent contribution to Aboriginal studies. The book also considers contemporary and multi-disciplinary critiques that the expedition members were, on the whole, deficient in bush craft, especially in light of the expeditions failure to use Aboriginal guides in any systematic way. Generously illustrated with historical photographs and line drawings, The Aboriginal Story of Burke and Wills is an important resource for Indigenous people, Burke and Wills history enthusiasts and the wider community. This book is the outcome of an Australian Research Council project. Cultural sensitivity Readers are warned that there may be words, descriptions and terms used or referenced in this book that are culturally sensitive, and which might not normally be used in certain public or community contexts. While this information may not reflect current understanding, it is provided by the author in a historical context.

Reviews

"There is so much detail in the Aboriginal contributions to the Burke and Wills journey that we can't ignore it any more."-- "The Weekly Times"

Author Bio

Ian D. Clark is Professor of Tourism in the Business School of the University of Ballarat, Australia. He has a PhD in Aboriginal historical geography from Monash University, Australia. His areas of interest include Victorian Aboriginal history, cultural heritage management, attractions management, Indigenous tourism, the history of tourism, and Victorian toponyms.

Fred Cahir is a Senior Lecturer of Indigenous Studies in the School of Education and Arts at the University of Ballarat, Australia. He completed his PhD on the role of Aboriginal people on the Victorian goldfields at the University of Ballarat with Sovereign Hill Museums Association as his Industry Partner. His areas of interest include contact history, goldfields history, Indigenous tourism, and toponyms.