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A YEAR ON THE GREAT BARRIER
REEF
A Story of Corals and of the Greatest of Their Creations.
C.M.Yonge.
First published November 1930 by Putnam, London and New
York. Reprint March 1931.
Hardcover, embossed title in gold on cover, and spine;
246 pages, maps, index, over one hundred excellent photographs, diagrams
and drawings.
The author was the leader of an expedition to the Great
Barrier Reef in 1928-29. I am not sure how valuable is the information
provided in view of more recent works on the marine life of the Great barrier
Reef. The turtle cannery on Heron island is described in some detail. A
dozen or so shipwrecks are listed in brief detail, including the
Quetta, Cooma and Yongala.
One of the great books on the GBR. Chapters include Historical
Background; Low Isles; the Reef amnd Mangrove; Reef builders and Reef Destroyers;
Experiments on Corals and Other Reef Animals; the Reefs from Cairns to
Cape Melville; Thursday Island and Pearling; the Capricorn Group (that
includes Heron Island); Profit and Loss from the Barrier; the Isle of the
Pacific. [ps] |
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AUSTRALIA'S CORAL REALM
Wonders of Sea, Reef and Shore. Also advertised
as The Wonders of the Great Barrier Reef.
Charles Barrett.
Published by Robertson and Mullens, Melbourne 1943.
Softcoverr, 48 pages, 32 mono photographs. Thin board
covers have a folded over fly and extend beyond the text pages,
ôPrice Two Shillings and Sixpenceö.That was
not an insignificant amount in its day. The book appears to be part of
a series 'To Know and Understand Australia'; it is extremely informative
and would have fulfiulled its role in th series admirably. Chapters include
Treasures of the TropicsReef Builders and their Kin, Coral Varieties, Life
Among the Coral, The Great Barrier Reef and its Islands. Of particular
interest to us divers is just the one page showing a photograph of a standard
dress helmeted diver about to descend on a pearl bed û rather traditional
with no real historic significance û but, the page also shows a photograph
of a very interesting diving apparatus. The photo is simply captioned 'Shallow
Diving. Note the Ned Kelly Helmet'. Looking closely at the photo of two
men in a low-freeboard skiff and a man (diver no doubt) in the water there
appears to be what looks like a small water urn with a rectangular protrusion
from its cylindrical body. This is no doubt the fitting for a face plate.
Part of a hose is visible and, intriguingly, next to the 'helmet' there
I what appears to be the handle of a standard car-tire foot pump.
It would be appreciated if anyone who knew bout this helmet could contact
me. It was probably æhome-madeÆ and not in commercial production.
(For those of you reading this who are not familiar with Australian colonial
history, Ned Kelly was an outlaw who confronted the police wearing a suit
of iron armour including a helmet with slits for the eyes. It would hardly
double for diving use!!) This small book of more than likely emphemeral
interest in its time is probably rather rare today and a fine collector's
item. [ps] |
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AUSTRALIA'S GREAT BARRIER
REEF.
A Handbook on the Corals, Shells, Crabs, Larger Animals
and Birds, with some remarks on the Reef's place in History.
Vincent Serventy.
First published 1955, by Georgian House, Melbourne, in
assocition with Phoenix House, Limited, London.
A small book, hardcoverm dustjacket, 87 pages, mono photographs.
Wouldn't it be nice to think tht the Great Barrier Reef
could remain the way it was fifty yars ago when the author, a mrine naturalist,
first
observed it. His final chap[ter is called 'Tourist and Reef'; I am sure
Dr. Serventy would not have imagined the tourist development that has occurred
over the past twenty years. So far we have kept the oil rigs away. But
for how long?
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BARRIER REEF DAYS
William Hatfield.
Oxford Univerisity Press, Melbourne First published 1948,
reprint 1949.
Hardcover, probably no dust jacket, 224 pages, a few
mono line drawings.
This is a story of life on the Barrier Reef, but not
having read it as yet (only skipped through) I am not sure if it is factual.
I think it is from the style of the writing.
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CORAL REEFS
Subtitle: A Global View by Diver and Aquarist Les Holliday
Les Holliday
Consultant: Dr. Elizabeth Wood.
Published by: Salamander Books, London in 1989.
Hard back with dust jacket, 204 printed pages. Very well
illustrated with many colour photographs and diagrams. Dimensions: 31 cms
tall by 22 cms wide.
The book is split into 2 parts, “The Coral Reef Environment”
and “Coral Reefs of the World”. In turn, each part is further sub-divided
into several parts with part 1 concentrating on general subjects like how
a coral reef is created and fishes of the coral world. Part 2 looks
at coral reefs in the Caribbean, Maldives, Res Sea, Kenya, Great Barrier
Reef and Hawaii.
As usual in these sort of books, all the photos &
diagrams are of a very high quality. [pt] |
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CORAL REEFS - NATURE'S
RICHEST REALM
Roger Steene.
Crawfod House Press, Bathurst, Australia. 1990. ISBN
1 86333 009 7.
Hardcover, dust jacket, 336p, large format, gloss art
paper, full colour.
One of the finest books on life in the coral seas. Shot
on the Great Barrier Reef, the Red Sea, Indian and Pacific Ocean
islands and reefs, it features Steene's superb photography. The text is
brief but valuable. The book is now out of print and will no doubt become
a collectors item. The finest photographic book of marine animals
and the sea produced by an Australian publisher, by an Australian photographer.
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CORALS OF AUSTRALIA AND THE
INDO-PACIFIC
J.E.N.Veron.
Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1986. ISBN 0 207 15116
4.
Hardcover, dustjacket, A4 size, massive 644 pages, full
colour throughout, diustribution charts, index.
There is no finer book on the subject. Once again, when
the book sold out the publishers did not bother to reprint inspite of the
continuing demand. This resulted in a three-volume set CORALS OF THE WORLD
being published by the CSIRO, containing of course a great deal more information,
but at a commensurate cost. The single volume book was ideal for Australian
waters and is in great demand.
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FISHES OF THE GREAT BARRIER
REEF AND CORAL SEA.
The Complete Divers' and Fishermen's Guide.
John E. Randall. Gerald R.Allen, Roger C.Steene.
Crawford House Press, Bathurst. Published in the USA
by University fo Hawaii Press, 1990. ISBN 1 86333 012 7.
Hardcover, dustjacket, A4 size, 506 pages. A superb book,
generally with three or four photographs per page.
Second edition, Revised and Expanded, 1997. Crawford
House Publishing, Bathurst. ISBN 1 86333 140 9.
Hardcover, dustjacket, A4 size, 556 pages - fifty more
than first edition. A superb book, generally with three or four photographs
per page. Generally regarded as the bible for divers.
Top is first edition.
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Reader's Digest Book of the
GREAT BARRIER REEF
Reader's Digest, Sydney, 1984. ISBN 0 949819 41 7.
Hardcover, dustjacket, large square format 365 x 265
mm, 384 pages, full colour throughout, index.
An excellent comprehensive book on the Great barrier
Reef, its formation, corals, marine life, recreational and scientific use.
Although the subject matter is diverse, this is perhaps the best book that
covers "The Reef".
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GREAT BARRIER REEF
And Some Mention of Other Australian Coral Reefs.
William J. Dakin
Australian National Publicity Association, Melbourne
1950.
Hardcover, dust jackt, 134 pages, mono prints, index.
One of the true classic book on the natural sciences
by the father of marine biology. It is also interesting to rad of the mny
islands hat were, in the days of Dakin, free of tourists and the ghastly
resorts that go with them. Here is Heron, and Hayman, and Lindemann and
Dunk islands at their best
From the fly: This story concerns the wonder and
beauty of the greatest coral region of the seven seas. As the author so
aptly writes, "The words 'coral' and 'coral islands' have generally called
up visions of romance and one can remember how they not only formed the
background of many stories of boyhood, but made at least one best-seller
of recent times. To scientists of the last hundred years they have, however,
been magnets of great attractive power. They have provided the most fascinating
problems for the marine biologist.". For the late William .J. Dakin, D.Sc.,
Emeritus Professor of Zoology, University of Sydney, the amazing Great
Barrier Reef region, the scattered green atolls of the tropic seas and
other coral regions, such as the Abrolhos Islands of the West, constituted
allure and a life-long delight. His life-work concluded with the writing
of this volume - a brilliant effort to make known, to every visitor and
to those who cannot travel, the unique geogaaphical feature of the Australian
continent. [ps] |
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GREAT BARRIER REEF: DIVING GUIDE
Roberto Rinaldo
The Five Mile Press Noble Park, Victoria, Australia 1997.
Softcover, 4to - over 9" - 12" tall; 168 pages
with colour illustrations.
Introduces twenty-seven dives scattered along the entire
barrier reef. Also includes a section dedicated to the flora and fauna
of the Great Barrier Reef. |
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LA GRANDE BARRIERE DE CORAIL.
Bernard Gorsky.
Paris. 1969. Hardcover, dustjacket, 253pp. col &
b/w ills.
French text.
Underwater photography of the Great Barrier Reef. |
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ON THE BARRIER REEF.
Notes From a No-ologist's Pocket Book.
S.Elliott Napier.
Published in 1929 by Angus and Robertson, Sydney.
Hardcover, 194 pages, mono photographs.
Quite an important historry as it covers early explotation
of the reef as well as a description of a number of islands and the marione
and land animals.
Hardcover, no dust jacket on my copy but may have had
one, 193 pages, index, a few mono photographs of natural science subjects,
two maps.
The book is based on a series of articles first published
in the Sydney Morning herlad, and concerns itself with an expedition to
a number of islands to the Great Barrier Reef, to observe and record
nature. Chapters include: Bundaberg to Lady Musgrave; the Mutton-Bird;
Noddies and Gannets; Crabs and People; Fish and Flora; The Ways of the
Turtle; Turtle Soup and Turtle-Riding; Wonders of the Reef, Shells; Insects
andCorals; and Beauty and Cruelty. I understand this was a well respected
book in its day, and I have no reason to assume that it has not lost this
respect amongst those whop study the Great Barrier Reef. [ps] |
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THE GREAT BARRIER REEF.
Isobel Bennett. First published by Lansdowne Press, Melbourne,
1971.
Hardcover, large format, dust jacket, 183 pages, full
colour and mono photographs throughout.
I personally regard this is still the best book on the
GBR - informative and thorough, well written, with fine photographs. As
would be expected, covers the formation of the coral reefs, the reef-building
animals, the animals that inhabit the reef system, fringing reefs and inshore
islands. A great book, dedicated respectfully by the author to the memory
o Professor William John Dakin, Challis Professor of Zoology, Univeristy
of Sydney, 1928-1948, "who guided my first footsteps as a marine biologist".
The author also wrote the acclaimed, 'The Fringe of the Sea', in 1966.
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THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Allan Power.
Published by Paul Hamlyn Pty Ltd, Sydney, in 1969.
Hardcover, large format, dust jacket, 144 pages, full
colour.
Few people realise that the author, a well-known dive
operator in Espiritu Santo (wreck of the SS Prsident Coolidge) was once
an accomplished underwater photographer, one of the first in Australia.
This book is the first that Paul Hamlyn published, a great fouindation
for a remarkable publishing company. The book went through many reprints
and is still provides vluable knowledge to this day.
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THE ROMANCE OF THE GREAT BARRIER
REEF
Frank Reid. With illustrations by Geoffrey C. Ingleton.
Published by Angus & Robertson, Sydney and London, 1954. Hardcover,
191 pages, mono illustrations, no index. An excellent narative of the GBR,
covering (chapters) Early Visitors, Cook's Voyage Inside the Reef, Remarkable
Open-Boat Voyages, Adventurous Navigators, The Island of Skulls, White
Women Amongst the Savages etc etc. Includes mention of the colourful
Green Island hermit George Lawson, known as Yorkie (thus the suburb
Yorkie's Knob). A much under-rated book on the finest reef system in the
world.
On a personal note - I have often been suspicious of
books with a title of ... 'The Romance of....', particularly when I came
across a book called The Romance of Leprocy. But I had a phone call
from a gentleman in Queensland who was looking for the book as it was his
grandfather who was the author. We spoke for some length and I managed
to track down a copy for him, and also bought one for myself. It turned
out to be a great read, covering several of the popular shipwrecks and
fascinating stories of those intimately associated with the Great Barrier
Reef. [ps] |
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UNDER THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Richard Lurie.
First published in 1966, Jarrold Publishers (London)
Ltd.
Hardcover, dust jacket, 191 pages.
A biography by an Englishman diving the Great Barrier
Reef in the 1960s. He certainly covers a lot of ground. Part travel documentary,
part marine observation, part personal observation and opinion, it is of
limited historic interest except for the occasional annecdote. [ps] |
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WONDERS OF THE GREAT BARRIER
REEF.
T.C.Roughley.
First published in 1936 by Angus and Robertson, Sydney
and London.
Hardcover, 280 pages, colour and mono plates.
This is the classic book on the Great Barrier Reef, within
many reprints since. It gives an early aspect of how the reef was perceived
and used commercially, with little thought to tourism at the time. The
chapter Wealth from the Reef gives you an idea of how the marine life could
have been exploited. E book gives an excellent description of the marine
life - the corals, fishes, mammals and invertebrates. Still an important
work.
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