A Traveller's History of Australia (Traveller's History)

Essential reading for travelers who wish to enjoy the amazing diversity of Australia, this book outlines the history of that great southern democracy from the arrival of the earliest Aborigines some fifty or sixty thousand years ago to the present.

The ancient Aboriginal way of life is described; early European sightings; and the establishment of the British convict colony in 1788, which dragged the continent into the modern world. The dynamic story of Australia in the twentieth century, its role in two world wars, the post-war discoveries of huge mineral deposits, its courting of Asia in recent decades, the return of vast areas of land to the Aborigines, and its confident cultural vibrancy in wine, food, film, and art are also examined.

Most travel guides strive to be all things to all people. Refreshingly, the Traveller's History of Australia does one thing and does it well, giving the reader a thorough, if occasionally dry, sketch of Australia's land, people, and history. It's especially strong when handling Australia's 53,000 years of precolonial history--the continent's geographical and biological anomalies and the history and customs of its aboriginal peoples are usually given short shrift in the thumbnail histories provided by most travel guides. A handy "historical gazetteer" firmly ties the book's historical themes to the places travelers will actually visit. There are even whimsical appendices explaining why boomerangs return and what makes kangaroos hop. A boon for the curious, thoughtful traveler, this history is an excellent way to enhance your understanding (and enjoyment) of your destination. --Andrew Nieland